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Advising Center
Leading the Way
Jake Kardash ‘13
Student Government Association, Vice President of Business Affairs
Major: Fire-based EMS Management
Hometown: Stillwater, N.Y.
In this world, we often misunderstand what leadership is. Leadership is something that cannot be taught. It cannot be taught in a classroom, on the football field, or in your favorite campus organization. A leader has a certain aura. You know when one walks through the door. The utter presence of this person can change the environment of the room.
Leadership often goes hand in hand with education, experience, and responsibility. A good leader must be well-rounded and perform under the “fight or flight” response, rise to the challenge, and sometimes stand aside if need be. When in a leadership role, an individual must know when to fight for the good of his/her followers and also know when to retreat. Leadership is not a selfish quality.
Anna Maria College offers endless opportunities for leadership growth. With a student to faculty ratio of 14:1, AMC students are given exceptional opportunities to excel in the classroom. The College also offers seventeen Division III athletic teams, numerous clubs and organizations, and hundreds of job opportunities so students have many diverse avenues to hone their leadership skills. In addition, AMC exposes students to many different views and provides students with a broad core of classes to better inform their worldview.
As a self-designed major, combining Paramedicine and Fire Science, Anna Maria College has presented me with life changing experiences. I was selected to join the Paxton Fire Department as a paid-on-call firefighter, completed a 240-hour internship with Spencer E.M.S. as an E.M.T., and traveled to Simplex Grinnell, FM Global, Globe and Tyco Research and Development. Anna Maria College has provided me with the academic and practical opportunities to thrive and become a leader of tomorrow.
Tapping into International Connections
Thanasi Christoforou
Experiential learning opportunities are often the highlight of many students’ educational experiences at Anna Maria College, whether through required clinical programs, practicums, or student teaching, or through elective internships. Electing his internship was the case for Thanasi Christoforou, a senior Criminal Justice major, who in the fall 2012 semester interned through The Washington Center (TWC) in Washington, D.C., at INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) Washington.
INTERPOL Washington’s Mission is to advance the law enforcement interests of the U.S. as the official representative to this international organization, to share criminal justice, humanitarian, and public safety information between our nation’s law enforcement community and its foreign counterparts and to facilitate transnational investigative efforts that enhance the safety and security of our nation.
Thanasi’s experience at TWC included not only the internship but also a Leadership forum and various civic engagement experiences. He describes his time with INTERPOL as “extraordinary and an opportunity to advance in the professional world and gain a head start that is truly unique.”
Seizing Opportunities
Quincy Thomas
AMC sophomore Quincy Thomas was in the fourth grade his South Windsor, CT elementary school needed someone to play a brass instrument for the band. Quincy was chosen to play the euphonium, a small tuba, and since then he has known that music has to be a part of his life. Throughout junior and senior high, Quincy honed his musical abilities while exploring other talents, which he discovered by participating on the wrestling and football teams. He was adept at both and in his senior year he made the all-state wrestling team. “It took a great deal of discipline for me to keep up with everything,” explains Quincy. “I also had the tremendous support of my family.”
With so many accomplishments, finding the right college where he could continue to grow his abilities became a challenge. “My parents didn’t go to college,” states Quincy. “As a first generation student, my family and I were unfamiliar with the search process.” Thankfully, as Quincy puts it, “Anna Maria College found me.” With budding band and football programs, Quincy was a perfect fit for AMC.
After deciding to attend Anna Maria, Quincy began to think through his major. Criminal Justice appealed to him but he was determined to follow his dream of exploring the music field. “I was afraid that I would always regret it if I didn’t try to do something with music,” he shares. “The music education program at AMC made sense as it would allow me to study music while preparing me for the teaching profession.”
As a music education major, Quincy takes music classes, as well as education classes that expose him to the teaching profession. “It is interesting to see how a classroom works from the perspective of the teacher rather than the student,” comments Quincy. “Now I am able to understand what comprises a good learning environment.”
Since joining AMC, Quincy has been able to be a part of many firsts for the College. He was the first student to sign the register for the new St. Ann Hall; he is a proud member of the first marching band; and he is a committed team member of the first football team. As part of the football team, he also helped to make history for Anna Maria with the first football victory in November. “It was great to get that first win,” states Quincy. “We all feel vindicated and proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
Quincy believes that his college experience is a step to the future, so while he is at AMC he plans to make the best of all four years by achieving in academics, sports, and music. “At a small school like Anna Maria, you have the potential to accomplish many things,” Quincy shares. “I believe in living life to the fullest and seizing the opportunities. AMC is helping achieve my dream.”
Growing Student LeadersAlicia Savo and Rahul Patel
It did not take long for Alicia Savo and Rahul Patel to emerge as student leaders at Anna Maria College. Both chose the College for its small, close-knit community; everyone associated with AMC has benefited greatly from their choice.
Alicia is the middle child in a large New Hampshire family. Unlike most middle children, she has never been invisible. “I am not afraid to speak up and say what I think,” she shares. “I like to be involved with what is happening around me.”
Rahul grew up in New England and returned to the area after moving to Georgia. “I didn’t like the schools down south so I searched for colleges that would bring me up north,” explains Rahul. “AMC ended up being the right fit.”
Rahul and Alicia met at AMC, and according to Alicia, “After Rahul and I spoke up at a meeting with President Jack Calareso and Dean Andrew Klein to share some of our ideas, we were approached to be the food representatives for the Student Government Association.” So Alicia and Rahul joined together to become a dynamic force on campus.
After their service as food reps, Alicia decided to run for president and Rahul for treasurer and later vice president of their class. They both won; and in their new roles, became responsible for working with their classmates to raise money for events and activities.
Again their successful efforts and strong passion for AMC led them to achieve leadership roles in SGA with Alicia serving as president and Rahul as Vice President for Student Affairs.
Seizing Opportunities
Quincy Thomas
AMC sophomore Quincy Thomas was in the fourth grade his South Windsor, CT elementary school needed someone to play a brass instrument for the band. Quincy was chosen to play the euphonium, a small tuba, and since then he has known that music has to be a part of his life. Throughout junior and senior high, Quincy honed his musical abilities while exploring other talents, which he discovered by participating on the wrestling and football teams. He was adept at both and in his senior year he made the all-state wrestling team. “It took a great deal of discipline for me to keep up with everything,” explains Quincy. “I also had the tremendous support of my family.”
With so many accomplishments, finding the right college where he could continue to grow his abilities became a challenge. “My parents didn’t go to college,” states Quincy. “As a first generation student, my family and I were unfamiliar with the search process.” Thankfully, as Quincy puts it, “Anna Maria College found me.” With budding band and football programs, Quincy was a perfect fit for AMC.
After deciding to attend Anna Maria, Quincy began to think through his major. Criminal Justice appealed to him but he was determined to follow his dream of exploring the music field. “I was afraid that I would always regret it if I didn’t try to do something with music,” he shares. “The music education program at AMC made sense as it would allow me to study music while preparing me for the teaching profession.”
As a music education major, Quincy takes music classes, as well as education classes that expose him to the teaching profession. “It is interesting to see how a classroom works from the perspective of the teacher rather than the student,” comments Quincy. “Now I am able to understand what comprises a good learning environment.”
Since joining AMC, Quincy has been able to be a part of many firsts for the College. He was the first student to sign the register for the new St. Ann Hall; he is a proud member of the first marching band; and he is a committed team member of the first football team. As part of the football team, he also helped to make history for Anna Maria with the first football victory in November. “It was great to get that first win,” states Quincy. “We all feel vindicated and proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
Quincy believes that his college experience is a step to the future, so while he is at AMC he plans to make the best of all four years by achieving in academics, sports, and music. “At a small school like Anna Maria, you have the potential to accomplish many things,” Quincy shares. “I believe in living life to the fullest and seizing the opportunities. AMC is helping achieve my dream.”
