With its eclectic gathering of talents, the class of 2000 brings much diversity to the University. Ranging from a Celtic fiddler to a U.S. patent holder, the freshman class continues in the tradition of outstanding and unique individuals at the University.
Christoph Guttentag, director of undergraduate admissions at the University, said that the members of the Class of 2000 are definitely of high caliber. Applicants to the University increasingly excel in science, community service and music, since they have had more opportunities to develop these areas in the curriculum of their secondary schools, he said.
Motivated students, however, often create their own opportunities to achieve, Guttentag added. "I think that some students are particularly accomplished because they've been fortunate enough to have resources at their disposal," he said. "But others, even if they don't have all the advantages of other students, take what they've been given and go beyond it."
Trinity freshman Eric Perlyn is one new University student who exemplifies such motivation in his community service work. Six years ago, Perlyn founded Step'n Up to provide shoes for needy children in the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. area. In recognition for this undertaking Perlyn was one of 10 recipients of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, chosen from a field of 7,000 nominees and 104 finalists.
Perlyn said the idea for Step'n Up started when he used a portion of his bar mitzvah money to buy five impoverished children new shoes. "Instead of writing a check to charity, I wanted to see how I was helping organizations directly," he said. "I watched [the children] put [their shoes] on and transform into expressive children with self-confidence. After seeing what shoes could mean to some of these kids, I was committed to providing shoes for more children."
Since then, Perlyn has given new shoes to over 5,000 children through collaboration with shoe manufacturers and local shoe stores.
Several other members of the class of 2000 have arrived at the University having already received recognition for their accomplishments. Trinity freshman Katherin Slimak addressed over 800 people from the White House, Senate and House of Representatives at NASA after writing a paper that was accepted for publication in the Journal of Soil Biology and Biochemistry.
Trinity freshman Brandt Fletcher earned a U.S. patent and received recognition from the United States Army after placing in the Fairfax County, Va. Science Fair for his project on a non-toxic herbicide extracted from the black walnut tree.
Working with two scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago, engineering freshman Becca Willett tested molecules that could be developed into anti-cholesterol drugs using computer analysis and later presented her research to the American Chemical Society.
Trinity freshman Vera Draznowsky organized and developed a synchronized swimming team in Westchester, Pa. that developed from a five-member organization that competed locally with a 25 member nationally ranked outfit.
Some of the talents of the freshman class are more unique than others. Trinity freshman Julian Harris sings classical arias at dinner theaters in Italian, Latin, German, French and English while Trinity freshman Grainne Murphy is ranked second in the world in Celtic fiddling. Her CD recording, "Keltic Kids," was recently released.
Although one of the members of the freshman class is the granddaughter of a former U.S. president, Guttentag said that he could not release the student's name.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.