Camille Sippel
Foundation Scholarship
University of Nebraska – Lincoln Circle
This fall, Camille Sippel began attending the University of Chicago Law School. Her long-term goal is to own and operate her own law firm that will accommodate work in entrepreneurial justice, aiding low-income and disadvantaged populations in building successful businesses.
As an undergraduate student, Camille served as the University of Nebraska’s student body internal vice president and was able to design and implement projects for students by students. Some examples include adding emergency contact numbers on the back of student ID cards and proposing and gaining university approval for a more comprehensive University Attendance Policy to cover absences for issues related to mental health and medical conditions related to pregnancy. She was also able to serve as the circle’s vice president of recruitment and designed a more accessible online application which increased the applicant pool by 20 percent. As an elected senate member within student government, she served on the committee for diversity and inclusion and was a member of the UNL Disability Club, a mentor, a Board of Director’s intern, and a service leader for several local nonprofit organizations.
Andrew Smythe
Foundation Scholarship
Stockton University Circle
Andrew Smythe graduated from Stockton University in May 2018 with dual degrees in biology and philosophy. During his time as an undergraduate student, he served as the president of the Stockton University Circle and planned various service and entertainment events with the circle. He also served as the president of an environmental group called Water Watch, the secretary of Stockton Entertainment Team (SET), and a committee member of the Relay for Life committee.
In September 2018, Andrew returned to Stockton University to pursue his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). As a physical therapist, he intends on providing treatment and motivation to individuals who endured physical injuries and lost motivation needed for their lifestyles. Andrew noted “patients would receive treatment and learn routines that would help the healing process and empower them to take care of themselves after they receive treatment. Providing the empowerment to patients is the greatest accomplishment and joy as a physical therapist.”
Dillon Staub
Diane and Tom Vukovich Scholarship
University of Cincinnati Circle
Dillon graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science with a major
in electrical engineering. As an undergraduate student, he served as membership chair and co-president of the Alpha Theta Circle and contributed to several other student organizations including Student Activities Board, Engineers Without Borders, ROAR Campus Tour Guides, and Engineering Diplomats. Other involvements include Emerging Campus Leaders, CEAS Ambassadors, and his most current position as a peer mentor through Cincinnati’s joint co-op institute. Dillon’s interests in neuromorphic computing and nanotechnology led him to research emerging device architectures, and his desire to connect business disciplines with engineering led him to pursue a minor in finance.
With the assistance of O∆K’s Diane and Tom Vukovich Scholarship, Dillon is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. His research is in electrical engineering centers on hardware security and the development of trusted and secure systems. Following completion of his degree, Dillon hopes to work with startup companies in the Atlanta metro area.
Cynthia Suryawan
Foundation Scholarship
Salem College Circle
Born with a cleft lip and palate, Cynthia Suryawan grew up having significant interactions with medical professionals as well as speech therapists. Having attended a small high school and then a small, liberal arts college, Cynthia recognized how intersectional identities have impacted their life.
Cynthia has always been passionate about change and having their voice heard. During their undergraduate years, they took charge in several leadership roles. Given a platform on the Student Government Association, Cynthia was able to engage their peers as well as their superiors to help create tangible change. These roles have enabled Cynthia to embody scholarship, service, integrity, character, and fellowship.
Cynthia’s experiences have also impacted their academic and occupational goals. Cynthia will be earning a Master of Science with a major in statistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Their ultimate goal is to become a biostatistician so that they can make a difference in the medical field. Cynthia would like to address the discrepancies that are present in the medical industry particularly those regarding racial, sexual, and gender minorities.
Zachary Taylor
Kenneth P. Ruscio (Washington and Lee University) Scholarship
Washington and Lee University Circle
An initiate of the Washington and Lee University Circle, Zachary Taylor graduated in May 2017 as valedictorian of his class. In addition to serving as an honor code advisor with the Student Government Association and editor-in-chief of the Mudd Journal of Ethics, Zachary also tutored undergraduate students in Latin, hosted a weekly radio show, and worked tirelessly with the Alpha Circle in support of its diversity initiatives both on campus and in the local Lexington community.
For the past year, Zachary taught Latin and coached soccer and basketball at a private school in Delaware. Zachary also assisted in the American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project in Sicily.
He is currently attending Trinity College at the University of Cambridge in pursuit of a Master of Philosophy in theology, religion, and the philosophy of religion. Zachary’s studies will address questions about God and the nature of God-talk, the way in which philosophers approach the study of religion and ontology, and how religious thinkers from various traditions confront problems concerning divinity and religious language. Ultimately, having grasped the most fundamental concepts in the philosophy of religion at Cambridge, Zach plans to complete a Ph.D. in religious ethics with the intention of teaching as a university professor.
Sarah Reagan Tepool
Katharine Cater (Auburn University) Scholarship
Auburn University Circle
A May 2018 graduate of Auburn University, Sarah Reagan Tepool served as president of the Omega Circle, and through her position, she was the Miss Homecoming Director. Sarah Reagan is also a member of Mortar Board and Phi Kappa Phi.
Sarah Reagan started the physician assistant program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham this fall. Upon completing her physician assistant studies, Sarah Reagan will be capable of working in many different medical fields. Currently, she is interested in either dermatology or orthopedics as future focuses. Ultimately, Sarah Reagan’s goal is to build relationships with patients and get to know more than just their medical conditions. She hopes to bring hope to patients through healing.
Jacob Veitch
University of Maryland, College Park Scholarship
University of Maryland, College Park Circle
An initiate of the University of Maryland, College Park’s Sigma Circle, Jacob Veitch graduated in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Science with a major in international business and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in government and politics. He served as the Sigma Circle’s co-director of events from January to May 2017 before serving as circle president for one year. Jacob’s other involvements include being a member of the Maryland Federation of College Republicans where he served as state chairman. Jacob also led the Student Government Association as president, where he revised SGA election procedures. Jacob was also on the advisory committees for the Office of the Provost and the Department of Information Technology.
Currently, Jacob serves as a business technology analyst in Deloitte Consulting’s Government and Public Services practice. In this role, he provides thoughtful analysis of federal programming and constructive solutions to address some of the country’s greatest national security challenges. Jacob accepted this role after previously interning at Deloitte, the Department of State, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Congress.
Jacob is planning to attend law school, and he intends to enroll no later than 2021. He hopes to leverage the law school experience to do what he has always done – serve others.
Hannah Weber
John D. Morgan Scholarship
Transylvania University Circle
In May 2018, Hannah Weber graduated from Transylvania University summa cum laude with majors in neuroscience and educational studies. As president of the Lampas Circle, Hannah coordinated many events ranging from initiation to the National Day of Service project. She was an integral member of the residence life program on campus, serving as both a resident advisor and an area coordinator for first-year students. In the Lexington community, Hannah was very involved in the Living Arts and Science Center. At the center, she worked in curriculum development and as a teacher for the after-school Science Explorers program. This program strives to empower students attending low-income schools in STEM fields. Additionally, Hannah attended the Yale Sherwin B. Nuland Summer Institute on Bioethics and received a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates grant to study the molecular evolution of memory circuitry in octopuses through the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory.
In January 2019, Hannah will begin a year-long Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia. Upon returning, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive science with an emphasis on how learning occurs in the developing brain, ultimately synthesizing these findings with research in education to inform improved instructional practices.
Ashley Werner
Foundation Scholarship
University of Mary Circle
At the young age of 16, Ashley Werner had the chance to attend a medical career camp where she shadowed a speech-language pathologist (SLP). After witnessing the impact of the SLP on families and patients, Ashley knew that she had found her purpose to serve individuals with communication needs.
As an undergraduate student, Ashley served as the O∆K circle president. In this role, Ashley assisted the newly chartered circle to establish strong circle practices by effectively running meetings, organizing new service projects, and encouraging additional leadership activities. In addition, Ashley served as North Dakota’s state student officer and campus vice president for the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association.
In the fall, Ashley began a Master of Science with a major in speech-language pathology at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. She said, “I am excited to continue developing ample skills and professional traits needed to reach my career goal, to serve as an SLP in rural North Dakota where there is a significant need for speech-language pathologists.”
