Graduates at a Glance 2016
Photo by Carl Socolow '77.
Class Composition
The class of 2016 is composed of 527 graduates, including 31 who completed their degree requirements last summer and in February. Seventy-six percent of graduates earned bachelor of arts degrees, and 24 percent earned bachelor of science degrees. Forty percent graduated with Latin honors.
Departmental honors were awarded to 51 students.
The class ratio was 55 percent women and 45 percent men.
Thirteen percent of the graduating class is represented by students of color (excluding international students): 27 Hispanic or Latino, 16 African Americans, 14 multi-ethnic and 10 Asian Americans.
Forty-nine graduates were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
Points of Origin
Members of the class of 2016 reside in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Twenty-three percent are from in-state. After Pennsylvania, most come from New Jersey (11 percent), New York (10 percent) and Maryland (nine percent).
Forty-two students graduating in this class are citizens from 19 foreign countries.
Majors and Minors
Eighty-four percent of seniors graduated with one major, while 16 percent were double majors. Forty-three percent majored in an interdisciplinary field, and 28 percent majored in an international area, such as foreign languages, international studies, international business & management or area studies.
The most popular majors with this graduating class were international business & management, psychology, economics, biology and political science.
Thirty-three percent of the class graduated with a declared minor, with the most popular minors being economics, Spanish, French & Francophone studies, mathematics and creative writing.
Nineteen graduates successfully completed the health studies certificate requirements, and 12 graduates successfully completed the security studies certificate requirements.
Study Abroad and Global Engagement
Fifty-six percent of the graduating class studied abroad during their undergraduate years, including 48 percent of students majoring in the sciences and 52 percent of students of color. These students studied in 27 countries on six continents.
Sixty-six percent of women and 44 percent of men in the class studied abroad.
Six percent of students participated in off-campus study programs, such as The Washington Center.
Fulbright Scholarships
Four graduating seniors were awarded a Fulbright this year:
- Sheraldine Francisco, who graduated with a double major in history and Latin American, Latino & Caribbean studies, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain.
- Elizabeth Hardison, who graduated magna cum laude with a major in English, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Indonesia.
- Ezra Sassaman, who graduated magna cum laude with a major in German, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
- Rachel Schilling, who graduated summa cum laude with a double major in English and German, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
Peace Corps
Two seniors have accepted positions with the Peace Corps:
- Jared Ginsburg, who graduated with a major in environmental science, will work as an environmental educator in Nicaragua.
- Claire Henriques, who graduated with a major in sociology, will work as a youth and HIV/AIDS capacity building volunteer: life skills in Botswana.
AmeriCorps
One senior has accepted a position with AmeriCorps:
- Yessenia Tostado, who graduated with a major in psychology, will work for the Schuler Scholar Program as an AmeriCorps STEM Scholar Coach in Chicago.
City Year
Two seniors have accepted positions with City Year:
- Moira Mahoney, who graduated with a major in English, will volunteer for City Year in Philadelphia.
- Kerry Richmond, who graduated cum laude with a major in women’s, gender & sexuality studies, will volunteer for City Year in New Orleans.
Teach for America
One senior has accepted a position with Teach for America:
- Madeline Chandler, who graduated cum laude with a double major in psychology and Spanish, has accepted a position to teach at an elementary school in San Antonio, Texas.
Commissioned U.S. Army Officers
Seven members of the class of 2016 will receive their commission into the United States Army as 2nd lieutenants:
- Susan Buckenmaier, who graduated magna cum laude with a major in biochemistry & molecular biology, will be assigned to the U.S. Army Reserves as a Medical Service Corps Officer at Fort Meade, Md.
- David Cook, who graduated with a major in international studies, will be assigned to the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer at Fort Benning, Ga.
- Lawrence Fitzmorris, who graduated magna cum laude with a major in psychology, will be assigned to the U.S. Army as an Armor Officer at Fort Benning, Ga.
- Jacob Heybey, who graduated summa cum laude with a major in computer science, will be assigned to the U.S. Army as a cyber officer (one of only 13 selected nationally for this new branch) at Fort Gordon, Ga.
- Gregory Horne, who graduated magna cum laude with a major in policy management, will be assigned to the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
- Timothy Lehotsky, who graduated with a major in history, will be assigned to the U.S. Army as an armor officer at Fort Benning, Ga.
- Miles Ward, who graduated cum laude with a major in Italian studies, will be assigned to the U.S. Army as an infantry officer at Fort Benning, Ga.
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Published May 23, 2016