The 2012 Senior Gift Scholar:
Evelyn Canela '13
Hometown: Brooklyn, New YorkMajor: International Affairs
Why I chose Skidmore College…
I chose Skidmore College because I have always valued small classroom environments that allow students to build relationships with their professors. After visiting many college campuses and comparing the diverse campus environments, I recognized that Skidmore is a college that truly fosters creative thinking in the classroom and actively encourages students to study abroad or off campus. Skidmore’s campus climate is not a competitive environment. Instead, students here collaborate for new ideas, events, shows and other activities on campus.
The aspect of Skidmore that I most enjoy…
As an International Affairs major I have had the opportunity to take a lot of interdisciplinary courses in anthropology, government, business, economics and foreign language departments. My favorite aspect of Skidmore is the student to faculty ratio. Professors at Skidmore are dedicated to helping us succeed. I am grateful for the relationships with many professors at Skidmore and this opportunity is certainly one of the best aspects of attending a small liberal arts college. My professors are genuinely interested in my plans after graduation and they always offer great advice.
After graduation, I plan to…
I look forward to attending graduate school to earn a master’s degree in public policy. After two summer internships at The Ford Foundation, I have developed a passion for social change and a degree in public policy will allow me to gain hands-on experience at various non-profit organizations and think tanks. I would love to start off my career in Washington, DC or New York in an effort to understand policy making on a national and city level.
My co-curricular activities include…
During the past few years at Skidmore, I have consistently been a part of Inter-Class Council as the Class of 2013 Treasurer. My involvement in ICC has been very rewarding because I am able to collaborate with other council members to plan events on campus. I have also been a part of Academic Council as the student representative for the International Affairs Department. My role in Academic Council helped me understand the complexities of the department as it was undergoing major changes.
I am currently fundraising for co-sponsorship of a spoken-word poetry event on campus this semester. I hope the event raises awareness about the power of spoken-word poetry as a tool to discuss controversial issues. Next semester, I plan on encouraging student performances at the Tang Museum by creating an intimate community where students can perform their work. At Skidmore, there is always an opportunity to get involved on campus.