Providence, R.I.--One is a strong voice for the disabled, another is committed to serving her country and community, and a third graduate is prepared both for the corporate world and "to make an impact in society."
In a class brimming with student stars, Casey L. Reutemann of Clifton Park, N.Y., Sara K. Stowell of Charlotte, N.C., and Christopher J. Hessenius of Brookfield, Conn., have left distinct trails of glitter as members of the Providence College Class of 2009 that will graduate on Sunday, May 17.
A summa cum laude student with a major in American studies and minors in business studies and writing, Reutemann said her life and outlook have been profoundly impacted by her relationship with her best friend, Anne, who was born with a muscular condition that prevents her from walking or speaking. The pair met when they were 7 years old.
"Anne's presence has resulted in my strong set of principles and my unequivocal desire to understand people," said Reutemann, who noted she continues to be troubled by societal reaction--largely discrimination--to what she called "otherness."
Reutemann has put her feelings into action for much of her four years at PC. Most recently, she completed an internship with The Autism Project of Rhode Island. Her duties included writing advocacy pieces and fundraising.
This fall, she will enter the Syracuse University master's program in disability studies. She said the program "aims to guarantee the rights of disabled individuals in order to ensure their full participation in our society and our world."
A member of the Liberal Arts Honors Program, Reutemann has been a Dean's List member every semester at PC. She has been chosen to receive the "Highest in Concentration" award in both American studies and the Business Studies Certificate Program.
In addition to her achievements in the classroom, she was a member of The Cowl's sports writing staff, developing and writing a health and fitness column for the student newspaper. She also served on the Board of Programmers as a member of the Weekend Programming, Fine Arts, and Travel committees.
Calling her education at PC "beyond fulfilling," Reutemann said, "I leave confident that I am prepared for all that awaits me, for with the balance that PC has taught me to find, I feel that I can truly achieve anything, while enjoying everything."
Stowell's four years have been remarkable in their own right and earmarked by a sense of duty. A four-year scholarship recipient in the Department of Military Science's ROTC Patriot Battalion, she was a member of the battalion's Ranger Challenge Team and Color Guard, and she served as cadet executive officer.
Stowell's dedication and leadership were acknowledged during the recent Cadet Military Awards Ceremony. She earned four accolades, including The CPT Jay Tobin Memorial Award for outstanding leadership, high moral character, and an exceptional aptitude for military service, and the Providence College Class of '66 Award. This award is given to the cadet who best exemplifies the values of citizenship and service to the nation.
She will be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant during Commencement Weekend and will report this summer to Fort Eustis in Virginia with the U.S. Army's 7th Sustainment Brigade.
A social science major and a women's studies minor, Stowell volunteered with Campus Ministry throughout her PC career. As coordinator of the Children's Outreach Committee, she recruited students, coordinated volunteer schedules, and worked with needy children at sites like St. Mary's Home for Children in North Providence and the Smith Hill Day Care Center in Providence.
Through Campus Ministry, she also participated in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., assisted at a local soup kitchen, and served as a lector at Masses in St. Dominic Chapel. Stowell has been selected as the Reverend Vincent C. Dore, O.P. Award recipient for her dedication to community service.
"My Providence College education was truly an act of Divine Providence. I am incredibly grateful to have attended an institution that encouraged my growth intellectually, physically, and spiritually," she said.
Personal growth also was a hallmark of his four-year experience at PC, said Hessenius. His transformation from "a timid freshman to a young adult" was nurtured largely by the campus' friendly atmosphere and a solid foundation of courses in the Development of Western Civilization Program, he noted.
Hessenius pointed out that his exposure to Western Civilization and other Core Curriculum requirements such as theology, combined with his majors in quantitative economics and mathematics, provided him with a "well-rounded liberal arts education."
The summa cum laude student, who was a member of the Liberal Arts Honors Program, has achieved the highest academic rank in both of his majors. He also is a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon and Pi Mu Epsilon honor societies for economics and mathematics, respectively.
Academics was one area--but hardly the only one--in which Hessenius excelled. During his college career, he helped found and served with the Friars Lectern, the PC chapter of Toastmasters' International. He was an Admissions Ambassador, served as a tutor and research assistant in the Department of Economics, and was the Skating Friar Mascot at men's ice hockey games.
As he prepares for a position as an actuarial assistant in the Actuarial Development Program at John Hancock Life Insurance Co. in Boston, Hessenius is convinced that his PC education has prepared him well for the career road ahead.
"I have been exposed to so many new ideas and issues that I would never had studied if my professors had not challenged me," said Hessenius, who aspires to work in senior management in the insurance industry. "I have transformed myself into a better person, and now I am ready to make an impact in society when I graduate."
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