News

Ten members of the Holy Cross Class of 2010 have joined Teach for America, a program that trains top students of all academic majors to teach in low-income communities. Holy Cross ranks 13th among small colleges (2,999 or fewer students) contributing the greatest number of graduating seniors to the teaching corps.

Teach For America is the national corps of top recent college graduates who commit to teach for at least two years in urban and rural public schools, and become leaders in the pursuit of educational equality.

During the 2009-10 academic year, Teach For America received a record 46,000 applications from graduating seniors, graduate students and professionals. With a 12 percent acceptance rate, more than 4,500 new corps members started teaching in schools across the country this fall. The 2010 corps earned an average GPA of 3.6 and 89 percent have significant leadership experience.

In the last five years, a total of 56 Holy Cross graduating seniors, attracted by a commitment to public service, have joined Teach For America.

By Mary Moczula ’11

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NAME Esthefany Cepeda ’14

HOMETOWN Cambridge, Mass.

AREAS OF STUDY Undeclared

WHY SHE CHOSE HOLY CROSS “The amazing campus and the student to faculty ratio. And by being in Worcester, I have the opportunity to be far enough from my family to feel independent, but close enough to go home when I need some family loving and home cooked meals.”

ACTIVITIES Black Student Union

WHAT SHE’S MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO “Meeting new people and getting involved in the many facets of community service that Holy Cross has to offer.”

WHY SHE’S BLOGGING “I love to tell people stories and show a different perspective on things. To me, blogging is just like having a conversation with any of my friends and my blog will be a place to share things that I think are funny or somehow special.”

Read the blog »

Related Information:

• Check out our admissions and photo blogs, along with many of our other online journals at me.holycross.edu

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NAME Amanda Osowski ’14

HOMETOWN Hopkinton, Mass.

AREAS OF STUDY History major

WHY SHE CHOSE HOLY CROSS “From the moment I stepped on the campus I was intrigued with the beauty of the immaculate landscape and the ivy covered expansive brick buildings. I knew in my heart that this was the place where I wanted to study for the next four years. However, as I came to learn more about Holy Cross, I began to appreciate it for reasons that were beyond just the look of the campus itself. I loved the fact that the classes were small and intimate and that students had access to amazing resources and opportunities. Beyond just the educational aspect of the school I came to see that Holy Cross students were also a unique group. They were students who really cared about local and world issues, valued their educations, and were welcoming, accepting, and respectful of others. For these reasons, Holy Cross was my top choice school.”

ACTIVITIES “I am involved in Mock Trial and the College Choir, and I volunteer in the Admissions office where I give tours to prospective students.”

WHAT SHE’S MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO “I am very excited to experience the Crusader pride that is found here on the Hill by going to various sports events, especially football games! I am also looking forward to attending school-sponsored events like dances and concerts and meeting new friends. I just can’t wait to live the college life here at Holy Cross!”

WHY SHE’S BLOGGING “I really wanted to be a blogger because when I was a junior and senior in high school looking at Holy Cross, I found the blogs on the Admissions website to be one of the most educational and useful tools for finding out about the school. The students who posted the blogs were enthusiastic and friendly, which drew my interest and made me want to know more. I want to share everything that I do — every good, stressful, exciting, or rewarding event — with prospective Holy Cross students. Through my blog I hope to give students a real and honest look into life here on the Hill.”

Read the blog »

Related Information:

• Check out our admissions and photo blogs, along with many of our other online journals at me.holycross.edu

Osowski

NAME Kyle Olsen ’14

HOMETOWN Los Angeles, California

AREAS OF STUDY Political Science major with Peace & Conflict Studies concentration

WHY HE CHOSE HOLY CROSS “Ever since I was little, my image of a ‘dream college’ went something like this: ivy-covered brick buildings, a (or multiple) sports team(s) to cheer on, old libraries, a beautiful campus and, of course, snow! Holy Cross seemed to embody this dream description. But I ultimately chose Holy Cross for multiple reasons — its undergraduate focus (no TAs or graduate students!), small size (wait, you mean I get to be a big fish in a small pond?!), academic freedom, Jesuit ideals, generous financial aid, friendliness (everyone says hello and opens the door for others), and family-like vibe on campus, which lasts beyond graduation (just ask an alum). Holy Cross’ Washington Semester Program will also allow me to fulfill my dream of obtaining an internship with a government organization before graduation.”

ACTIVITIES “I am a proud member of Student Programs for Urban Development, an on-campus community service organization through which I visit a senior citizen center on a weekly basis. I am also a member of a college political group, an active participant of the Outdoors Club, and an Admissions greeter for the college (come visit me on Fridays in the admissions office!).”

WHAT HE’S MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO “I am excited to meet new people, enjoy my new sense of independence and personal growth, take on the academic challenges at Holy Cross, explore this region of the country, and just enjoy the whole experience of being in college.”

WHY HE’S BLOGGING “As a Los Angeles native, I was unable to visit schools on the East Coast. I found myself depending on books, college pamphlets, academic websites and other sources to get a ‘feel’ for the colleges that I was applying to. With my own experience in mind, I recognize the importance of gaining an insight into a college through the experiences and vision of a current student, even if it is through a college blog. I also want to provide a vision of Holy Cross from a West Coast perspective. This is my first time in this region of the country, so we can explore the area and the college together through this blog. Lastly, prospective students – I’m blogging for YOU!

Read the blog »

Related Information:

• Check out our admissions and photo blogs, along with many of our other online journals at me.holycross.edu

Olsen

Hundreds of students showed up to celebrate the grand opening of the Student Government Association information kiosk on the ground floor of the Hogan Campus Center on Oct. 19. The area, which is within feet of the Crossroads eatery, promises to become a new social hotspot on campus.

The opening — which featured free food and live music — revealed a newly renovated entertainment room that includes widescreen high-definition televisions, ping-pong and foosball tables, two Xboxes, and two Nintendo Wiis. At the kiosk, students can rent games and controllers for Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, and borrow cues, paddles, and balls for pool and ping-pong.

The room, formerly the movie rental space, features new couches and chairs, as well as two coffee tables. The open space and expanded seating provide a casual environment for students looking to relax or converse with friends during free time.

In addition, the SGA has opened two pool tables in the lounge area next to the information kiosk. All rental services are free of charge with a valid Holy Cross identification card.

Students can also get information about SGA and upcoming events at the kiosk.

“Whenever SGA has an event or is selling tickets for something, they will always be sold down at the kiosk,” says Jenna Sattar ’11, SGA co-president. “It almost doubles as a lobby table for SGA.”

The kiosk, staffed by students, is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until 1 a.m. Meghan McCloat ’12, director of SGA Services, oversees the new kiosk and gaming area with the help of the kiosk manager, Kevin Le ’12.

The event was buzzing with excitement as students mingled and tested out the new facilities.

“I love the new setup,” says Dan Loftus ’13. “The new entertainment room was a great surprise, and the free game rentals are a nice addition. The free pizza and nachos at this party are an added bonus.”

The SGA, which works to improve the Holy Cross student experience, is an influential force at the College.

“We are fortunate to be a very independent and influential organization due to the trust that the College puts in its students,” says Kevin Leggio ’11, SGA co-president. “This has a lot to do with the Jesuit philosophy and being men and women for, and with, others and the respect that the administrators at the College have for this philosophy.”

For more information about SGA, check out the new kiosk, or visit their website.

By Dan DeConinck ’13

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It was his humble demeanor that grabbed my attention. “Hello, I’m Bob,” he said as he got out of his chauffeured sedan upon arriving at Holy Cross, greeting me with a handshake and an affable smile. I met Bob Woodward on Oct. 20 as he arrived to address the Holy Cross student body for the College’s annual keynote Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture.

As co-chairman of the Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture Committee, I was elated last spring when our committee decided upon Woodward as our speaker. The Hanify-Howland committee is tasked with continuing to foster intellectual discourse on campus, as well as annually honoring an individual who epitomizes the College’s mission of public service. Over the years, the committee has brought speakers from across the nation to Holy Cross, most former or current government officials. The committee’s decision to explore other facets of professional, public life sparked interest in pursuing a speaker in an area underrepresented over the years: journalism.

The bias we see and hear in the media ad nauseum is pervasive across our culture. Much of contemporary journalism has substituted substance for spin, leaving those such as Woodward as pillars of what many fear is a dwindling profession. However, Woodward’s commitment to objectivity speaks for itself, providing society with compelling narratives composed of facts, completely impartial, allowing the reader to discern his or her own conclusions. Such professional integrity is steadfast and will surpass the fleeting editorialized news of today.

Woodward’s work focuses on civic transparency, shedding light on the unknown, compartmentalized areas of government life. “Democracies die in the dark,” he stated during his address to more than 650 students and members of the general public in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom. The sobering statements offered by Woodward speak to the role of journalism as a public service, casting light and perspective on pivotal issues of the day; through a better informed citizenry, he emphasized, our democracy is that much more empowered.

The following morning at one of two seminars with students, Woodward recounted an episode from 1974 when he was provided with a letter from a pharmaceutical representative to former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell. Dear John,” Woodward said, paraphrasing the letter, “we’re having trouble with the Securities and Exchange investigation, if we could get some help, we’ll contribute $100,000 to the 1972 presidential election … there it was in writing.” You know, people don’t write things like that anymore,” said Woodward.

Having grown up voraciously reading American political and historical biographies and chronicles, All the President’s Men was second nature to me. Watergate. Woodward and Bernstein. Deep Throat. These names have been ingrained into the American psyche, used frequently to characterize and define contemporary scandals. The blatant skepticism and distrust of government was fostered during the Watergate era, leaving the American public with a void that was once filled by public accountability. Woodward’s mission is committed to filling this void, providing the American public with a trusted, authentic account of the politics and debate behind our country’s most significant political and cultural developments.

I learned much from meeting, dining with, and listening to Woodward, finding myself able to distill his career into one word: integrity. Woodward was the ideal speaker for Holy Cross, as his intrinsic drive for the truth, and ultimate commitment to society, serves as his compass. He credits persistence and integrity as attributes for a successful life in public service.

Tucker Worthington Wade is a senior history major from Memphis, Tenn. He has been a member of the Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture Committee for three years, currently serving as its co-chairman. He plans to pursue a career in law.

Read coverage of Bob Woodward’s visit to Holy Cross in the Telegram & Gazette:

* A president unscripted; Woodward’s latest examines Obama’s battles in Afghanistan and Washington” (Oct. 19)

* “Woodward warns government secrecy poses threat to U.S.; Watergate-busting journalist, at HC, says ‘Democracies die in darkness’ ” (Oct. 22)

Related Information:

* Holy Cross in the News

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John Rubayiza is a warm, humble and good-natured Holy Cross second-year student. Born in Rwanda in 1989, he is graced with a smile that makes you feel comfortable in his company immediately. He is well traveled, speaks six languages and is committed to his spiritual, personal and academic development. Oh, and he plays volleyball too. Clearly, he is the kind of kid every parent would be proud to call “son.”

Yet for Rubayiza, this will never be. In 1994, he lost his father, along with his brother and a sister in the Rwandan genocide. Ten years later, in a Ugandan refugee camp of 5,000 people, he lost his mother mysteriously. “Someone poisoned her,” Rubayiza says, “over issues of land, and her friendships with the Ugandans.”

Orphaned, with sisters to care for, Rubayiza’s life in the refugee camp had taken a bleak and tragic turn. But rather than sinking into despair, he chose to take action. At 15, faced with the deteriorating tribal relationships between the refugees and the native Ugandans — competing for food, water and land — Rubayiza set his sights on helping the two sides come together.

To that end, he enrolled in a college in Italy to broaden his horizons. While there, he joined a group called Constructive Engagement in Conflict, a program that advocated non-violent responses to various conflicts. With the help of one of the program’s founders, an American named Selena Sermeno, Rubayiza brought his knowledge back to the refugee settlement in Uganda and initiated something he called the Peacemakers Club in 2008.

Today, that club enables refugees, together with their neighbors, to resolve conflict without resorting to violence. “My motivation for this was that I never wanted to see something like this happen again,” he says. “The Rwandan people were stigmatized by the genocide, and the Ugandans had no idea what had really happened to these people.”

Rubayiza’s effort helped him win a prestigious scholarship offered by the Davis Projects for Peace program, a scholarship program founded by philanthropist Kathryn W. Davis in 2007. The scholarship was one of 100 $10,000 projects awarded each year to undergraduate students from around the nation, put into action around the world.

With the money, Rubayiza spearheaded construction of what he called a peace information center, for both Ugandans and Rwandans, equipped with television, a DVD player and a place to communicate. Rubayiza also used money to mobilize people and organize awareness festivals. “We sensitize young people to violence and teach them peace in schools and churches,” he says. “We work to help strengthen their knowledge about peace and conflict resolution.”

Of course, the Davis funding only went so far. Rubayiza had to use some of his own savings from an internship in order to complete construction on the center. “This entire project is motivated by compassion and love,” he says, when asked the vague question “why?” “Sometimes I just feel I have to do something. I just have to help people, I see my past and I see where I am today and I know there’s hope for so many.”

Rubayiza came to Holy Cross last year. After meeting with an admissions officer in Italy, he was drawn to the school’s motto, “men and women for others.” “This was very important in helping me make my choice,” he says. “Based on the background and seeing people suffer in refugee camps, I felt I had to be a man for others.”

Currently, Rubayiza is focusing on designing his own political science/international studies major, and figuring out what’s next in the grand scheme of his life.

“It’s strange,” he says, laughing. “I actually don’t belong to any country. I don’t have a passport, because I can’t get one from Uganda — I am not Ugandan — and I can’t get one from Rwanda because I am a refugee. I have official UN papers, but no passport. Where do I belong?” he asks rhetorically.

“Well,” he reflects, “I want to be a political leader somewhere. I’m just not sure where!”

By Bob Gulla

Bob Gulla is a Rhode Island-based journalist and author with bylines in magazines such as People, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Details. Gulla also has a handful of book credits to his name, all titles relating to his passion: rock music.

Related Information:

* Read about last year’s Davis Projects for Peace recipient from Holy Cross: “Piantini ’11 Brings Children from Haiti and Dominican Republic Together”

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