Salma Abdullah
English and History
Salma Abdullah is a junior at Texas A&M University from College Station, Texas. She is a
double major in English and History with a double minor in Communication and Business
and is pursuing the Professional Writing Certificate.
As a Regents’ Scholar, Salma has participated in the Regents’ Scholars Program on several
levels to give back to the program that helped her achieve her dream of going to college.
She became a Regents’ Scholar Peer Mentor at the end of her freshman year. She then proceeded on to
becoming the Co-Chair of the Regents’ Scholars Program Student Planning Board, and she is currently the
president of the Regents’ Scholars Program Student Organization. In the past, Salma has participated in
organizations and activities such as the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Ags of Open Acts of
Kindness, Helping One Student to Succeed, Classroom Partners, LeaderShape, MSC Fall Leadership
Conference, and the Certified Student Leader Conference. This year she is participating in Class Councils,
Regents’ Scholars Program Student Organization, MSC Student Conference on National Affairs, and SGA
Executive Council Communication Crew.
Salma aspires to become a high school English and history teacher and to start a non-profit organization
that will allow disadvantaged children in developing countries to receive an education. She also aspires to
go to graduate school and get her doctorate, though her fascination with and love for learning makes it
difficult to decide in what subject. She is thrilled to be a member of the Academy for Future International
Leaders, and is delighted to have such an opportunity to grow and improve her leadership skills.
Jaclyn Boone
Biomedical Engineering
Jaclyn Boone is a junior Biomedical Engineering major who was born and raised in Austin,
TX. She is currently working in Dr. Humphrey’s cardiovascular mechanics lab and plan to
pursue a PhD in biomechanics after graduation in 2010. Before graduation she hopes to gain
a diverse research experience by working in a biophysics lab in Oxford. Eventually she
hopes to become a professor of cardiovascular biomechanics to continue doing research and
teach abroad.
Jaclyn is a President’s Endowed Scholar, a Dean’s Scholar, and a member of Golden Key International
Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. During her first two years at A&M, she was involved with LIFE
– Leaders in Freshman Engineering, and also SEC – Student Engineers’ Council. Both organizations gave
her a great foundation of friends within her major and also provided numerous networking and leadership
opportunities. In the spring of 2008, she was accepted into Maggies – a women’s leadership organization
on campus and also participated in a service project through International Student Volunteers in Australia,
where she did work on sustainability and revegetation.
Jaclyn attended Leadershape after her freshman year. One of the goals for the week was to create a “vision”
– something that participants cared deeply about. Jaclyn’s vision was to build an education hospital in an
impoverished nation where local citizens could go to learn about preventative medicine and basic hygiene.
The facility would also provide basic healthcare – both post-diagnostic and preventative. During her junior
year at A&M, she took a step toward making her vision a reality by founding Nourish International TAMU
chapter. The mission of Nourish is to eradicate poverty by engaging students and empowering
communities. Jaclyn will lead a group of students on a sustainable development project abroad in the
summer of 2009.
Jaclyn cares deeply about global issues, especially poverty and economic instability. She believes that
being a student in AFIL will broaden her outlook of the world and grant her new insight into solving global
problems. Wherever life takes her, she desires to have a significant impact on those around her and to help
instill change in the lives of others.
Jennifer Bowden
International Politics and Diplomacy
Born in Newfoundland, Canada, Jennifer Bowden grew up in small fishing city. Moving to
Texas in 2001, she developed a deep appreciation of politics. During her high school years,
she was extremely involved in Texas Youth and Government and served as Youth Chief
Justice of Texas. Jennifer is very intrigued and involved in the arts. She enjoys oil painting
and charcoal sketching and served as the founder and president of her high school’s AP art club. She is
invigorated by anything touched by creativity.
After entering the university, Jennifer has fallen in love with Russia and everything Russian and has added
a Russian minor to her International Politics and Diplomacy Degree. Leading camps in the Russian
wilderness during the summer of 2007, Jennifer further developed her passion and improved her language
skills. In the summer of 2008, Jennifer studied abroad in both Moscow and St. Petersburg for two and half
months. There her language was further developed as was her fascination. Jennifer plans to research again
in St. Petersburg as she writes her thesis on her favorite author and brilliant man, Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Jennifer loves Texas A&M and has developed character through her participation in student organizations
such as Fish Aides, Abbott Family Leadership Conference, The Big Event, Judicial Court, Women’s
Chorus and Legislative Relations. She is also involved with Community Church, and enjoys spending time
at potlucks in Bryan with people currently experiencing homelessness. Also, she has been very lucky to
have had some of the best jobs in Texas. Jennifer worked as a barista at Coffee Station and currently has
an internship at the law office of Rob H. Holt. Jennifer has currently many opportunities to investigate the
discipline of law which supports her plans to apply to law school. Jennifer wants to study family law and
handle international adoptions. Eventually, Jennifer plans to move to Russia and operate her own
orphanage.
Celeste Cox
International Studies
Celeste Cox is a Senior who was raised in Willow Park, Texas, outside of Ft. Worth. She is
an International Studies major with an emphasis in communications and media and a double
minor in Spanish and English. She also holds an Associate in Arts degree from Weatherford
College. Celeste is on the Dean’s list for the College of Liberal Arts and is a member of Phi
Kappa Phi and Phi Theta Kappa.
Celeste has always had a passion for service and helping those in the inner-city. Since high school, she has
volunteered at crisis pregnancy centers in Ft. Worth and College Station. Recently, she has fallen in love
with children in inner-city Bryan by working as a lead-teacher for Pioneers Friday Church.
Celeste hopes to combine her avid interest in international affairs and her desire to serve others by working
in a global, non-profit organization. She is currently researching and applying for internships and jobs in
worldwide aid organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse.
In her free time, Celeste enjoys composing music and performing and practicing her piano, guitar, and bass
guitar. She also likes to read whatever classic literature she can get her hands on (or purchase at Half-Price
Books!). When she is not inside, Celeste enjoys dirt biking, running, and mountain biking.
Nicole Crum
Management of Information Systems
From Houston, Texas, Nicole Crum is a junior in the Mays Business School majoring in
Management of Information Systems in the Information and Operations Management
Department. She is also working on a minor in Economics and a Certificate in International
Business.
Nicole is a member of the Mays Business Honors program, and is currently a Coordinator of the Freshman
Business Initiative (FBI), an organization with over 80 peer leaders, which leads over 600 freshmen in
business competencies at Mays. She is also the Secretary of the Association of Information Technology
Professionals (AITP). AITP meets twice a week and brings in corporate sponsors to speak on a subject
related to the IT field. She is also on the student advisory board for the Center for Management of
Information Systems (CMIS) where she has the opportunity to network with the corporate sponsors of the
program. She is also involved with the Catholic Student Association at St. Mary’s where she has staffed
church retreats and volunteered with several organizations including 40 Days for Life.
In high school, Nicole achieved the Girl Scout Gold Award by working with the outreach ministry of her
church, which serves thousands of underprivileged in the local area. Nicole identified a need for
underprivileged children to own books to enable them to better prepare them for school. She collected over
3,000 children’s books which were distributed to disadvantaged children in the Houston area for Christmas
as well as an orphanage in Mexico. Enough books were still available to start a small library in a local food
pantry from which children could select a book to keep. In addition, she compiled several informational
sheets with places in the community that offered free English classes to be kept at the food pantry. This
project opened her eyes to the needs of the local and global community.
Nicole’s first overseas experience was in her sophomore year of high school when she travelled with her
family to the Netherlands and Belgium to visit her father who was working in The Hague. This trip
sparked her interest in Western Europe. Later, she travelled with her Girl Scout troop to Cozumel, Mexico,
for another international experience. This past summer she participated in a Marketing Study Abroad Trip
in Western Europe where she networked with companies in England, France, Austria, Switzerland, and
Germany. When she returned to the states, she started her second internship with Shell Exploration and
Production Co. in Houston, Texas. She also had the opportunity to travel with two of her roommates to
their hometown of Monterrey, Mexico.
After graduation, Nicole plans to work for an international corporation where she will have the opportunity
to interface with people from other cultures on a global scale. She also plans to continue her studies and
later attend either an MBA program or a masters program where she can continue learning from other peers
and professors in a different environment than work.
Nicole is excited about the Academy and looks forward to working and learning from the dedicated
international leaders as well as the other Texas A&M student leaders who have been selected for the 2009
class. She looks forward to broadening her horizons in anticipation to someday becoming an international
leader herself.
Angie Deapen
Chemical Engineering
Angie Deapen is a senior Chemical Engineering major and Spanish minor from Fort Worth,
Texas.
Angie plans to continue her education by attending medical school to become a physician.
She hopes to combine her technical knowledge in medicine and engineering in order to
make her a more effective physician. Ultimately, she hopes to apply her knowledge by joining Doctors
Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization, and conducting her own medical
mission trips throughout Mexico. It was several years of participating in mission trips to Mexico and
guidance from the doctor that she shadows that led Angie to want to travel internationally to provide less
fortunate people with the healthcare that she feels many take for granted.
In high school Angie was active in student organizations such as National Honor Society and in the
community by volunteering in such programs as the Growth Center Project, where she served as a mentor
for a second grade child. She graduated with many honors such as Summa Cum Laude and AP National
Scholar. She attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where she received a large academic
scholarship. There she entered the pre-medical program and planned to major in Chemistry and
Mathematics. After a difficult experience at Trinity, she transferred to Texas A&M.
At A&M, Angie began studying Chemical Engineering, which combined and applied her two passions of
chemistry and mathematics. When she entered the university in 2006 she became active in student
organizations such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Society of Women Engineers. In
her first semester at A&M, she was named to the Dwight Look College of Engineering Dean’s List. In
2007 Angie was inducted into the National Collegiate Honors Society and selected for the Chemical
Engineering Student Advisory Board, where she met with Chemical Engineering faculty and industry
professionals to discuss the revision of the department’s curriculum. She was also granted a generous
scholarship from Chevron Texaco Chemical Co. for academic excellence in Chemical Engineering. That
same year Angie completed an extensive engineering project for Habitat for Humanity, which was her
favorite project to date. In this semester-long project, she was the leader for a team that designed an
economical green home for a low-income family. The design included a water and energy conservation
system and was carried out on a budget of less than $50,000. Later that year, Angie joined the Pre-Medical
Society and began to focus more on her medical future. For the past year she has been shadowing a family
physician and volunteering at Health for All, a free health clinic in College Station for patients with no
health insurance. She greatly enjoys interacting with the patients and hopes that the medical aid she
provides for them will prepare her for her future in medicine.
Though the only country that Angie has traveled to is Mexico, she looks forward to either studying abroad
in Spain or volunteering abroad in South America. By living in these countries she hopes to improve her
Spanish language skills.
Thomas Deetjen
Mechanical Engineering
Thomas Deetjen is a junior Mechanical Engineering major from Denton, Texas. He is
currently participating in the Engineering Scholars Program and is pursuing a German minor.
Thomas has grown to love A&M not only for its quality education, but for its leadership
opportunities and has had the good fortune to be involved in planning many organizations on campus
including the Conference on Student Government Associations, the Big Event and the Spencer Leadership
Conference. Thomas has also been involved in helping Student Body President Campaigns each Spring
Semester, an activity he finds exciting because of the opportunity to meet many new people and to serve
the student body by promoting a candidate for this important role at A&M.
Thomas loves learning--a gift which made the choice between History, Art, Architecture and Engineering
majors a difficult one. He has managed to concentrate his studies on Mechanical Engineering only due to
the supplemental activities of reading historical novels, painting, drawing, learning music in his spare time,
and pursuing a minor in German. He has maintained a high GPR and received the honor of being placed on
the College of Engineering Dean’s List.
Thomas spent his last summer studying German language in Bonn, Germany, and touring the country and
much of Central Europe. This opportunity has not only solidified his desire to continue learning the
language, but has bolstered his interest of working in Germany after graduating. He plans to return this
summer for an engineering internship. Thomas continues to gain interest in both international business and
politics, activities which he hopes to actively participate in the future.
Terry Dike
Mechanical Engineering
Terry Dike is first and foremost a child of the Creator. His blessing, vision, and identity are
determined completely by his relationship with God, the Creator. He was blessed to gain
admission to Texas A&M University. Currently, Terry’s concentration is in mechanical
engineering. Also, he has a minor in Business Administration and will be graduating with
three different certificate distinctions.
Terry’s long term goal is to uplift the community through service, leadership, and especially education. He
will seek many avenues in order to realize this vision. In terms of furthering his own education, Terry is
aspiring to gain admission to law school and recently has decided on his dissertation topic when he
eventually matriculates through law school and seeks to gain a doctorate. Terry hopes to live a life solely
rooted in servitude to the community.
In the summer of 2005, Terry was blessed to partake in an exchange program sending him to Mexico. This
was what further fueled his desire and passion to learn Spanish. Terry has been around the world from
Germany to Amsterdam to Nigeria. He realizes how interconnected we all are and how similar we are as
people of the human race.
At one point, Terry was extremely active on campus, serving as the Chair to the Student Service Fee
Advisory Board and a student-athlete on the Texas A&M University track-and-field team. During the
spring of 2008, Terry ran a successful campaign for Student Body President. Even though he is not the
current President, he attests to the life changing experience.
Currently, Terry is working for Teach For America helping in the recruitment effort on this campus and
serves as the President to The Exceptional Men of The Talented Tenth, Inc. In the coming month, Terry
will be applying for law school in addition to national scholarships such as The Paul & Daisy Soros
Fellowships for New Americans.
Terry, without a doubt, is a critical thinker who will pursue the will of God, undoubtedly to his grave. He
loves the saying, “He who is greatest among us is the servant,” which gives reference to God’s son.
Thomas Patrick Edmonds
Political Science
From Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thomas Patrick Edmonds is a junior Political Science
major with minors in Theatre, Business, and Arabic. Thomas is half -English and halfAmerican. He was born in Hockessin, Delaware, not too far from the capital, Dover. When
he was only 6-months old, his family moved to South Africa. After two years in
Johannesburg followed by two years in Durban, he moved with his family to London, England, his
mother’s home town. After a two year stint in London, Thomas moved to Dubai, where he enjoyed being
part of a diverse classroom. Shortly after Dubai, Thomas moved to Chicago, Illinois, but that did not last
long because two years later, he was back in Dubai to finish out his high school studies.
Thomas enjoyed his overseas travel and is thankful for the opportunity to learn and communicate with
many different cultures. He attributes his great people skills to the fact that he has lived in many places of
the world and to having been in theatre for the past nine years. While he was in Dubai, his upbringing was
not what you would call a typical American upbringing. Instead of going to different cities to play an
opponent in a varsity sport, Thomas would travel to another country. For instance, Thomas went to Athens,
Greece, to wrestle in varsity wrestling to win gold.
As a third culture child, Thomas has had the opportunity to grow up among different languages. Thomas
had to learn the few words in Arabic in order to get around in Dubai; he is now taking Arabic in university
and has acquired the ability to read, write, and carryon a basic conversation. In high school, Thomas took
French for six years and in the summer of 2004, the 60 th anniversary of D-Day, he, with his family, traveled
around Normandy, France, to Bastogne, Belgium, where he was able to use his French. He did very well,
so well he could book you a hotel room with no problems.
At Texas A&M University, Thomas loves that he is involved. He is part of the Corps of Cadets and has an
Army contract. He will seek a commission after he graduates and serve three years of active duty as an
officer for the United States Army. Thomas feels he is obligated to serve his country, to make himself
proud and more importantly make his family proud. Thomas feels selfless service is the key to success of
being a good leader. To exercise selfless service, Thomas was a part of Fish Camp for two years; he was
part of Freshmen Leadership Development Retreat for two years; participated in a service organizationMSC Hospitality; a Freshmen Leadership Organization- Freshmen Aggies Spreading Traditions; volunteer
medic on campus; and is part of a prestigious men’s service and leadership organization called Old Army
Gentlemen’s Society.
Thomas has worked hard not only in the organization environment, but also in the classroom as well. He
has been awarded for his efforts with scholarships, including Hometown Alumni Award, Journalism Media
Scholarship, Herman F. Heep Award, Liberal Arts Scholarship, and Sul Ross Meade Carpenter Jr. 36 Corps
Scholarship.
After serving three years in the United States Army, Thomas plans on attending either law school or
graduate school for international affairs. Ever since he was young, Thomas has had a passion for different
cultures, languages, and customs. Thus, he aspires to one day be an ambassador for the United States. He
hopes the Academy for International Leaders can start him off on the right path. He wants to learn all he
can from the AFIL seminars, mentor program, and leadership development so he can gain insight and
understanding of the global community so as to be of better service in future.
Ahmed Haque
Biomedical Engineering
Ahmed Haque is a sophomore from College Station, Texas. He is currently pursuing a
degree in biomedical engineering and minor in mathematics.
Since entering A&M, he has taken a keen interest in venture capital groups related to
biotechnology and is hoping to intern with the FDA to further his understanding of medical device
regulation. Recently, Ahmed has begun research under Dr. Evangelos Christou of the Neuromuscular
Physiology Lab to study the effects of aging on motor neuron variability and physiological learning. He
hopes that this research combined with his studies of biomechanics and neurology will give him insight on
treating such diseases as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
In terms of international experience, Ahmed can thank his mixed background for giving him an eloquent
introduction. Ahmed is a mix of Egyptian and Bangladeshi descent and is well aware of the cultural and
economic differences that exist across the globe. He has travelled numerous times to the Middle East, Asia,
and in much of Europe. Ahmed has been actively involved with interfaith dialogue groups and
organizations like Model OAS and Student Congress. He hopes to devote part of his time at Texas A&M to
continue his studies of Arabic and is aiming for fluency by his graduation.
His varied interests and renaissance approach to life have taken him across many walks of study: from
religion to finance to the justification of punishment. While hesitant to decide a career so soon, he is
continually looking for a path that will genuinely articulate his talents into a positive change for those
around him.
Since coming to Texas A&M, Ahmed has had the good fortune to receive a number of awards. He is a
current recipient of the Lechner Academic Scholarship and one of sixteen University Scholars for the Class
of 2011. He was recognized for “Outstanding Academic Achievement” by the Texas A&M College of
Engineering in 2008 and was recently inducted into the Alpha Eta Mu Beta, Biomedical Engineering
Honors Society. During his freshman year he was nominated to be a student representative for the
Aggie100 Luncheon for “A&M’s Fastest Growing Businesses.”
In his spare time, Ahmed works as a web developer and graphic designer. He currently lives with his
family in their home in College Station.
Amanda Henson
Kinesiology
Amanda Henson is a junior Kinesiology major with a minor in Psychology and Spanish,
planning to graduate in May 2010. She is from the southern part of Houston where Johnson
Space Center (NASA) is located.
Amanda is involved on campus at Texas A&M University as well as off campus. Her freshman year she
joined the ultimate frisbee team and continues to play whole-heartedly with her team. Her sophomore year
she became a Resident Advisor on campus where she learned to deal with diverse people and issues in
addition to further developing her passion for serving others. She also had the opportunity to travel to
Monterrey, Mexico, for a leadership conference and serve on a task force to oversee the satisfaction of oncampus international students at Texas A&M. Amanda has been a group exercise class instructor at the
Student Rec Center since 2007 and loves every class she teaches. She is an advocate of educating others
about all-around health and helping prevent health issues. A safe environment is also important to total
health, so Amanda volunteers with Habitat for Humanity during the weekday to serve her neighbors in the
B/CS community. Even with all these activities, Amanda managed to make the Dean’s Honor Roll her
freshman and sophomore years.
As a kinesiology major, Amanda is a huge enthusiast of sports. She perceives sports as a type of art through
which individuals can express themselves and exercise passion for something grander than themselves.
Sports connect countries and cultures around the globe and, just like music and literature, can be used to
communicate respect and inspire leaders.
After graduating from Texas A&M, Amanda plans to join the Peace Corps and provide public health
education in Latin America where she hopes to implement a preventative medicine program using the basis
of sports to teach others about their health needs and create strong support systems. She is aware that life in
the Peace Corps will not be easy, but in the words of JFK upon establishing the Peace Corps, “If the life
will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying.” After serving with the Peace Corps, Amanda will return to
obtain her doctorate in sports medicine and practice preventative medicine abroad.
Although Amanda has never been abroad for a substantial amount of time, she goes to Mexico for at least a
week every year in order to visit her heart which she left in Mexico the first time she visited five years ago.
Amanda welcomes the opportunity that AFIL gives her to grow in international awareness and indulge in
different cultural encounters. She hopes to continue her AFIL experience when she studies abroad in the
summer of 2009.
Paige Ibanez
English and History
Paige Ibanez is a junior English and History major pursuing a Russian minor from Sydney,
Australia, though she spent most of her life in The Woodlands, Texas. Growing up, Paige
has been consistently exposed to international travel and experiences. All of her extended
family lives in Australia, so at a young age she has had the opportunity to travel. In the past
two years, Paige has been to Mexico, Italy, Germany, and Russia.
Paige’s involvement at Texas A&M has been rather extensive. As an incoming freshman, she attended the
Champe-Fitzhugh Summer Leadership Seminar in Italy during the summer of 2006. She also participated
in the Cornerstone Program, conducting research on the Stasi, or the East German secret service. Through
this program, she was able to conduct some of her research in Berlin. She is also a member of Delta
Gamma sorority and became Director of Fundraising for the chapter as a freshman; she is currently Vice
President for Communication. Paige has been a member of Honors Invitational Peer Leaders since her
freshman year and now serves the organization as Executive Fundraising Chair. She has also recently taken
on the position of Executive Research and Programming Director for MSC Student Conference on National
Affairs. This conference, which is held in the spring semester, brings in speakers who are leaders in the
field of US Intervention in Problematic Areas around the World.
Paige, in addition to holding leadership positions in numerous organizations, has received a number of
academic honors. She has been on Academic Dean’s List for multiple semesters, is a member of Phi Kappa
Phi Honor Society and Golden Key International Honor Society; she is a National Merit Finalist and a
recipient of the President’s Endowed Scholarship. She also had the opportunity to present her research on
the East German Stasi at the Great Plains Honors Conference in April 2008 and will continue to make
presentations throughout the year as part of University Undergraduate Research Fellows. As part of the
Research Fellows Program, Paige was able to travel to Moscow in July 2008 to conduct research on
dramatic theater in the Soviet Union and will continue this research throughout the year.
Upon graduation in May 2010, Paige hopes to attend graduate school for government and public service.
She would like to have a career involving an international dimension, most likely dealing with Eastern
Europe. In her free time, Paige enjoys watching movies, reading, going to concerts, and traveling.
Kathleen Karika
Applied Mathematical Sciences
Kathleen Karika is a sophomore Applied Mathematical Sciences major with an emphasis in
Statistics. She is also currently studying Arabic and hopes to achieve a minor in it once it
becomes available at Texas A&M University in Fall 2009.
Kathleen is from Merritt Island, Florida, and attended Edgewood Jr/Sr High School of Choice. She was in
the first graduating class of her high school and was instrumental in planning the traditions and practices
for future students. She held many positions, including Vice President and President of her class. Both her
parents are retired US Air Force officers so she was able to live in multiple states throughout her childhood,
as well as traveled extensively. Kathleen spent eight years in the nation’s capital and learned about all
levels of politics first hand. She lived in DC through two administrations and the September 11th terrorist
attack on the Pentagon. Her mother’s work with NASA and her father’s work with the State Department
have given Kathleen great insight into the international effects of key government programs.
In high school, Kathleen traveled to Nicaragua on a mission trip with a church youth choir. There she
witnessed a third world country and true poverty for herself. She participated in musical performances for
small communities and worked on construction projects at an orphanage. Also in high school, she was
competitively selected for the Global Young Leaders Conference. There she discussed world issues with
200 American and 200 international students for two weeks in Vienna, Budapest, and Prague. She made
many international friends and gained insight into the views of peers from around the U.S. and the world.
At the end of high school Kathleen received a scholarship from the Society of Women Engineers to attend
Texas A&M.
During her time at Texas A&M, Kathleen plans to study abroad for a year in Hungary and complete an
internship either overseas or in Washington, DC. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to
attend graduate school for a Master’s in International Business. Ultimately, she would like to work abroad
for a government agency, such as the State Department or Homeland Security.
Since Kathleen entered Texas A&M, she has been in the Honors college and the Mathematics Honors
Department. It is through the Math Honors Department that she will study in Budapest. Last year,
Kathleen was inducted into the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She is on the registrar committee and is
active in Kappa’s intramural sports competitions. Last year she played defense for Kappa’s intramural flag
football team which won the Championship. This year Kathleen also became a member of the National
Society of Collegiate Scholars. Finally, in January, she will attend the inauguration of the 44th President
and Vice President of the United States of America through the University Presidential Inauguration
Conference.
Kathleen has been a counselor at Camp Longhorn in Burnet, TX, for two years where she was a camper for
nine years. At camp, Kathleen was a senior counselor in the horseback riding program. This past summer
she was a nanny in Sweden where she interacted with senior Homeland Security officials. After that she
stayed in Hungary and Austria with her family. While there she tended the family vineyard and learned
about proper grape maintenance, harvesting, and Hungarian wine traditions.
Kathleen is a third degree black belt in Tang Soo Do karate. She achieved gold medals for her Forms and
bronze metals for her Sparring in two Junior Olympics. Kathleen is extremely passionate about Aggie and
Dallas Cowboys football, but most importantly she is a fervent patriot.
Kristin Krenz
English Literature
Kristin Krenz is a junior English literature major with minors in Spanish and Women’s
Studies. She is also currently pursuing a Professional Writing Certificate through the
English Department, which has aided her greatly in her job as writing assistant for the
Department of Agricultural Economics. Kristin was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas,
by her supportive and loving parents along with her younger sister who also attends Texas A&M. Growing
up in family of both German and Mexican descent in a city that fosters the convergence of many cultures,
Kristin developed an early interest in cultural interaction, languages, and travel.
Kristin began A&M with the intent of becoming a doctor; however, she quickly realized that her passion
lay in books rather than biology and promptly shifted her focus to literature. Along with her schoolwork,
Kristin enjoys dedicating much of her time to on-campus organizations. Since her freshman year, she has
played the violin in the Texas A&M Orchestra, which has proved to be an extremely rewarding
commitment. Currently, Kristin serves as the orchestra secretary and is also in the process of starting a
fiddle group on campus with the help of several other dedicated and talented Aggie musicians.
In addition to the TAMU Orchestra, Kristin is the International Service Program (ISP) executive for the
MSC L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness, an organization she joined her sophomore year. As
ISP exec, Kristin is helping to send several students on a medical service project to the Dominican
Republic and Honduras for six weeks during the summer.
This past summer, Kristin served as a HIP leader for the Summer Honors Invitational Program, where she
was able to teach high school juniors and seniors about Texas A&M and the opportunities available to them
through the honors program. After one month as a HIP leader, Kristin then caught a plane to Costa Rica
where she studied for 5 weeks through the Texas A&M Costa Rica Education Study Abroad program. The
lessons learned both in and out of the classroom not only provided Kristin with a better understanding of
the Spanish language, but also provided an enhanced appreciation for cultural differences and a desire to
live and study in Central or South America in the future.
Since coming to A&M, Kristin has gratefully received several scholarships, including the President’s
Endowed, CB Recognition, and International Education Fee Scholarships. She has made the Dean’s List for
several semesters with a 4.0 GPR, and was also recently inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Upon graduation, Kristin intends to apply for a Fulbright scholarship to study women’s literature in Latin
America, and eventually to complete a PhD in either English or comparative literature. In the near future,
she hopes to apply for an international internship and learn another language. As a member of the Academy
for Future International Leaders, Kristin intends to broaden her knowledge of international issues and to
become a more informed and, thus, more effective, global leader.
Victoria Link
International Studies and Spanish
Victoria Link is an International Studies and Spanish double major who grew up in
Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, before entering
Texas A&M in the fall of 2007. She began her career as an Aggie spending three weeks as
a participant in the MSC Champe Fitzhugh Leadership Seminar in Castiglion Fiorentino,
Italy. In her freshman year, Victoria served on the Memorial Student Center Wiley Lecture
Series Committee and worked towards bringing speakers to campus to talk to students about current
international and domestic issues. She also was a member of the Memorial Student Center Development
Council. Victoria received an internship with the local office of Congressman Chet Edwards, where she
learned about constituent affairs and represented the Congressman at community events.
In the spring semester of 2008, Victoria served as the founding Head Delegate of Texas A&M’s Model
Arab League team during its inaugural year. She organized the team’s strategy and led her peers to the
Model Arab League Conference in Houston where the team passed mock legislation. In March, Victoria
traveled to Munich and Vienna with the Cornerstone Honors Liberal Arts Program to work on a research
project in the concept of realpolitik and the diplomacy style of Clements von Metternich and Otto von
Bismarck. Due to academic and leadership performance, Victoria was honored as one of fifteen University
Scholars at the end of her freshman year. She is also a National Merit and President’s Endowed Scholar.
In the summer of 2008, Victoria traveled to the Dominican Republic to work for Save the Children, a nonprofit child advocacy group. She traveled to rural areas and interviewed children about the types of
development projects they would like to see in their communities for a UN World Bank report. She also
learned to dance the bachata, play betilla (street baseball), and acquired a taste for mangos.
Returning to A&M in the fall of 2008 for her sophomore year, Victoria is working towards founding a
foreign and domestic policy publication in which A&M students can submit creative policy proposals for
review, thus generating dialogue about solutions to the problems facing the American government. She is
also an Executive in the MSC Wiley Lecture Series and a Director within the MSC Development Council.
She is serving as a Committee Chairperson for Brazos Valley Worldfest, a festival generating global
awareness in the Bryan/College Station community. She continues to be active within the Cornerstone
Honors Program as the group explores topics within the American political system.
In her remaining time at Texas A&M, Victoria plans on studying abroad in Argentina and Chile and
completing a research project on South American oil diplomacy. Upon graduation in 2011, she plans to
attend graduate school to earn both a J.D. and Master’s Degree of Foreign Service. She likes the idea of
working for the private sector, but finds her true passion to be in the area of foreign policy.
In her free time, Victoria enjoys working out, reading books by Ernest Hemingway and David Sedaris,
shopping at Ralph Lauren, and planning future adventures abroad. Her life motto is, “To whom much is
given, much is expected.”
Stephanie Martin
International Politics and Diplomacy/History
Stephanie Martin is a first-generation Aggie from Dallas, TX. She is currently pursuing a
Bachelor of Arts degree in both International Politics and Diplomacy as well as in History,
with minors in Russian and French. She expects to graduate in December 2009 and plans to
graduate with undergraduate honors, foundation honors, and liberal arts honors. In Fall 2008,
Stephanie began working on her senior thesis through the Undergraduate Thesis Fellows program. Her
thesis topic is Russian Foreign Policy with an emphasis on Vladimir Putin.
During her freshman year, Stephanie went through recruitment and pledged Kappa Delta sorority. She
immediately got involved in leadership by becoming the Academic Excellence chair for her chapter. She
also became involved with Aggie International Ambassadors, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap
between domestic and international students. Following her freshman year, Stephanie spent the summer
studying abroad in Moscow, Russia, improving her Russian language skills.
During her sophomore year, Stephanie truly began getting involved in leadership on campus. She served as
the Director of Programs for the Liberal Arts Student Council by planning community outreach and
campus-wide events. She became Director of Resources for Aggie International Ambassadors which
essentially meant handling the money and budget for the organization. In addition, she served as the
Secretary for Order of Omega, a national organization which recognizes Greek students with high grade
point averages.
During her junior year, Stephanie consolidated her many leadership positions and worked on major events.
She served as the Vice-President of Membership for Kappa Delta sorority and planned their entire
recruitment for 2007-2008. During Texas A&M’s I-Week, Stephanie served as the Director of the Consuls
General Luncheon where she helped to plan, execute and emcee the event with the International Outreach
Office. At the end of her junior year, Stephanie was elected the point system chairman for Kappa Delta as
well as the President of Aggie International Ambassadors.
Following her junior year, Stephanie spent 13 weeks interning in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During that time,
Stephanie found herself immersed in the native Kyrgyz lifestyle by living with a native family and working
with the prestigious Central-Asian news agency, AKIPress. During this summer, she also had the privilege
of traveling to Beijing for leisure and traveling to Moscow and Ukraine to do research for her thesis with a
Summer Undergraduate University Research Fellowship.
In addition to her studies and leadership on campus, Stephanie works for the Texas A&M Study Abroad
Office as a Peer Counselor. She is involved in many campus and national honors societies, enjoys
participating in community service events and playing intramural sports with her sorority.
Following graduation, Stephanie will be getting married and applying to graduate school for a Master’s in
National Security. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, planning her wedding and eating Mexican food.
Mario Olivarez
History
Mario Olivarez is a senior History major from McAllen, Texas, with a minor in English and
Business. Mario was born in the border town of McAllen, and it is here that his interest in
international affairs began. The close proximity allowed Mario to frequent Mexico on
numerous occasions to visit family, participate in international scouting adventures and
more. Mario also participated in the International Baccalaureate program in which he underwent a rigorous
high school curriculum, took many tests and wrote many papers that were sent to various countries to be
graded, and as a result he passed the program and his high school diploma is recognized in 129 countries.
He was raised by Roberto and Juanita Olivarez with his three older brothers and his younger sister. His
parents also encouraged him to do the right thing even if it meant sacrificing something you own and that
selflessness has stuck with him to this day. Mario achieved the rank of Eagle Scout after many years of
service to others and in return received a better understanding of who he is and how important it is to set a
good example.
Mario is currently a member of B-Company in the Corps of Cadets and the Aggie Band. In his outfit he
serves as the Scholastics Officer where he helps establish and maintain a healthy study environment for the
entire outfit; he attempts to instill healthy study habits in the underclassmen. He is also the section officer
for the Euphonium section where he is responsible for teaching music as well as techniques for marching to
over twenty-five members. While in B-Company, Mario received the distinction of being the Best
Interviewed Sophomore. On the Corps Level, he has placed on the Commandant’s Honor Roll for two
years in a row. Mario is also currently employed as Peer Advisor in the Scholarships & Financial Aid
Office. As a Peer Advisor, Mario serves as a contact with the parents and students of the university. His
responsibilities are to assist counselors and answer all questions regarding financial aid that parents and
students ask, and also contact banks to ensure all required paper work is completed for students.
After Mario finishes his undergraduate degree, he plans on attending law school and practice law in the
state of Texas. After a couple of years as a practicing attorney, he hopes to get involved in government, be
it local, state, or national.
Travis Robinson
Finance
Travis Robinson is a junior from The Woodlands, Texas, enrolled in the Mays School of
Business Honors Program majoring in finance.
During his time at the University, Travis has been extensively involved in a number of
organizations that have helped shape his identity. The two that he considers most important to him have
been ASSIST, a servant leadership organization that centers on the development of freshmen, and the PEP,
which provides self-sustaining education, resources, and rigorous training to soon-to-be released prison
inmates in an effort to stem the tide of re-incarceration.
Currently, Travis serves as the Director for ASSIST. The organization as a whole aims to embody a
selfless lifestyle that focuses on leadership without position. This is now his third year of involvement with
the organization to which he credits much of his personal development as well as many of his defining
philosophies.
In addition, Travis is mentoring a participant in the PEP in which he serves as a one-on-one advisor to an
inmate. He is in the process of helping edit and refine a business plan that was conceived from behind the
bars of prison in an effort to help the motivated inventor escape from the vicious cycle of re-incarceration.
In addition to ASSIST and the PEP, Travis has also been extensively involved with The Battalion, having
written over 40 articles on high profile speakers and university leaders. Travis has been a member of
CARPOOL, the Greece Leadership Program, and is a very proud and current member of GENTS. He also
works for Kids Across America, a nonprofit Christian sports camp for inner-city children, first as a
counselor and currently as a campus rep.
Travis’ most recent experience abroad took him to Singapore where he lived and interned for seven weeks
during the past summer. Selected through the L.T. Jordan Institute, Travis had the opportunity to work at
the Singapore Business Federation, whose mission is to regulate the relationship between the business
community and the Singaporean government. Also during his time there, he was able to secure an
internship with the movie critic Yong Shu Hoong, a former MBA student and class of ’93, who writes for
the Singapore’s most widely read newspaper, The Strait Times.
Upon graduating, Travis tentatively hopes to pursue a career in strategy consulting, ideally for nonprofit
organizations. However, as a firm believer in both the power of education as well as the duty of conscious
citizenship, he is almost certain that he will end up pursuing ways to aid in the education of A&M students,
as so many have done for him.
Gabriela Santistevan
Animal Science and Agricultural Economics
Gabriela Santistevan is a senior from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a
double major in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics. She is also completing a minor
in Business. She was born and raised in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
At the age of sixteen, Gabriela decided to do a study abroad program in Mechanicsville, Virginia. She
lived with an amazing host family and attended Atlee High School for six months. During her years in high
school she was part of the Student Council, Operation Smile, National Honor Society, and Habitat for
Humanity. At the age of seventeen she lived with her older sister in Florianopolis, Brazil, where she
learned the basics of Portuguese. She got back to Bolivia, and all her senior year took Portuguese lessons.
Because of her study abroad experience in the United States and Brazil, she decided to leave Bolivia and
study in the United States.
On August of 2005, Gabriela moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she attended San Antonio College. In
San Antonio College she was the Treasurer of the International Student Organization and part of the
Student Leadership Institute (SLI). With SLI, Gabriela had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C.
where she learned about Political issues of the United States and also visited the Pentagon. Gabriela was
also part of the English Honors Program.
On August of 2007, she transferred to Texas A&M University where she began pursuing her dream goal of
studying Animal Science with a minor in Business. By December of that same year she became very
interested in Agricultural Economics and decided to double major. She is the current President of the
Bolivian Student Association (BOSA). She is also a member of the College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences student Council. During her first semester at Texas A&M University, she received the Eduardo
Bessoudo Scholarship of $1,000. She was also part of the Distinguished Students of the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences. In Fall 2008, she received the Good Neighbor Scholarship, a scholarship for
International students, the Herman F. Heep Scholarship, and the Harvey E. Guinn Memorial Scholarship.
In December 2007, she organized a fundraising event to help the poor children of Bolivia.
Gabriela wishes to continue with her studies with a Masters Degree. She does not know yet in which of her
majors she wants to focus. Her interest in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics is equally
engaging.
She dreams of travelling to China to learn more about the technology in Agriculture. She plans to begin
taking Mandarin classes. She also dreams of traveling over Central and South America enlightening people
on the importance of Education and the importance of being self-sufficient and becoming capable of
achieving any goal in life. She also plans on building elementary schools in rural areas in Bolivia because
she believes the foundation for a stable economy is education.
She also believes in the idea that there are no ordinary moments in life and this is why people have to take
advantage of every single day to learn something new about their surroundings.
Asher Schusterman
Biomedical Science
Asher Schusterman is a senior Biomedical Science major and Business minor from Houston,
Texas. He plans to graduate with University Honors in May 2009, after which time he plans
to attend medical school.
Since his freshman year, Asher has played for the Texas A&M Rugby Club and was recruited by the Texas
A&M coaching staff after a successful high school rugby career at St. Thomas High School in Houston. He
is also an active member of One Army, a men’s service and leadership organization on campus. Asher is a
three-year Fish Camp counselor and mentors a sixth grade student at a local underprivileged middle school
once a week. Lastly, he is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the National Society for
Collegiate Scholars.
Asher also has extensive research experience. He conducted research during the summers of 2006 and 2007
in the cardiovascular surgery research lab at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, earning him a coauthorship on an abstract that was accepted by the Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation and was
published in their journal in February of 2008. The study tested an artificial pulse generated by two
ventricular assist devices in a mock circulatory system loop. Asher also assisted a graduate student in her
research on tottering and leaner mice during the Spring Semester of 2008 in the neuroscience lab of Dr.
Louise Abbot.
Asher’s father first fostered his sense of cultural awareness, taking him on a medical mission trip to
Guatemala when he was a junior in high school. Also, during the summer of 2008, he had the opportunity
to participate in the Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program at the Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston. One of only 24 participants, Asher was assigned to a cardiothoracic/transplant surgeon at the
Methodist Hospital for the summer and was able assist in over 50 cardiovascular operations, including
three lung transplants and one heart transplant, during his two-month stay in the program. Through these
experiences, Asher learned the satisfaction of improving the quality of life for another human being and the
global impact physicians can have by doing mission work or by developing major medical innovations.
Although his international experience is limited to multiple trips to Central America, Asher looks forward
to studying abroad in Germany during the upcoming Winter break at the University of Düsseldorf and
hopes to gain a more global perspective and to further his knowledge of current global events through his
participation in the Academy.
In his spare time, Asher enjoys playing and writing music on the guitar and piano, snowboarding, sports,
and fishing.
Daniel Solis Ayala
Visual Studies
Daniel Solis Ayala is a sophomore Visual Studies major in the Department of Architecture.
He was born in Mexico City and his family has been an important influence in his life
pushing him towards accomplishing his goals. He came to the U.S. in 2004 and started
junior college in Reno, Nevada, where he had his first international leadership experience as
the International Club president. The Latino Club and Amnesty International are also other organizations he
joined.
During his junior college career, he experienced meeting people from different countries, especially Asia.
Daniel currently speaks three languages: Spanish, English, and French. His new goal, however, is to
become fluent in Japanese. Daniel was chosen to be in the National Dean's List in 2004. He graduated with
honors in 2005 with an Associate of Science degree.
After graduation, Daniel experienced financial difficulties and had to drop out college for almost a year to
save money and be able to continue with his education. Finally, he was able to go back to school and start a
computer engineering major at Texas A&M. During his first semester he was awarded the Texas-Mexico
Scholarship. He attended an engineering conference in Philadelphia where he was awarded a scholarship by
Google as well.
Daniel is very interested in math and science and is continuously involved in engineering organizations
such as the Society of Hispanic and Professional Engineers and the Mexican American Engineers and
Scientists Society. He will be attending another engineering conference in Las Vegas to keep improving his
career skills.
Daniel's interest in the field of design and computer graphics attributed to his final decision to change his
major. He enjoys the idea of combining art, math, and science and is planning to get a Master's Degree in
Visualization Science at Texas A&M after he graduates.
The interest in human rights and helping others motivated him to join some organizations to do fund raising
and organize events for the National Organization for Women, Amnesty International, Global Justice and
the International Student Mentor Association.
Daniel is planning to study abroad in Germany or Japan to learn more about other cultures. Daniel is very
excited to be part of the Academy because he wants to keep improving his leadership skills as well as
gaining more international experience. He plans to find a job in the U.S., Japan, or Europe in the movie or
video game industry after he has completed his formal education. Finally, all his accomplishments would
not have been possible without the support of his family, friends, and his determination to succeed in this
country.
Lara Speights
English and Spanish
Lara Speights is a junior from Mexia, Texas, pursuing a double major in English and
Spanish with a minor in Business. Her small town upbringing, with a rising Hispanic
population, gave her the opportunity to see many sides of the economic and social spectrum.
This, along with a love for languages, sparked a continued interest in other cultures and their interactions.
Since coming to Texas A&M, Lara has been involved in a variety of organizations and events that continue
to hone her leadership skills. During her freshman year, she was a member of Freshmen Leaders in
Progress (FLiP), as well as a delegate for the inaugural Gilbert Leadership Conference for freshmen. Her
sophomore year, she was selected as a Sophomore Advisor for the Freshman Honors Dorm, Lechner Hall.
She has been a Fish Camp Counselor for the past two years and currently works at the University Writing
Center. She was also selected as a delegate for the Spencer Leadership Conference for sophomores and
now serves as Chair for the 2008 Conference.
During the summer of 2008, Lara was selected as a student leader for the Champe Fitzhugh, Jr.
International Honors Leadership Seminar in Castigilion Fiorentino, Italy. This three-week experience,
combined with a month-long study abroad to France during summer 2007, has only heightened her love
and interest of the international realm. She has taken two years of French and has been cultivating her
Spanish skills since eighth grade.
Upon graduation in May 2010, Lara hopes to teach English for a few years – either through the Fulbright
Program or Teach for America. Through this experience, she would gain practical and cultural experience
with the Spanish language. After that, she currently plans to attend law school focusing on international
law.
Lara is ready to expand her global perspective through the Academy for Future International Leaders and
hopes to use her experiences through this program to hone her critical dialogue skills. She hopes to also
gain a clearer perspective on global issues and how individuals can actively work to contribute to their
resolution.
Corene Sullivan
English and History
Corene Sullivan is a junior English/History major from San Antonio, Texas. After
graduating from Texas A&M, she plans to attend medical school specializing in pediatrics.
A career as a pediatrician will be the perfect opportunity for Corene to help children through
the knowledge and practice of medicine.
Corene experienced other cultures during her childhood due to her father’s military career. Her experiences
while living in Japan for three years helped define Corene’s sense of the world. She also learned the
importance of always trying to look at problems in more than one light. Corene’s extended time overseas
shaped her future more than she could have ever imagined. While she has also had the chance to travel in
Italy and to Berlin, Germany, on week-long educational tours, Corene is anticipating that her experiences
through AFIL will provide even more depth and insight to her international perspective.
As a leader on the Texas A&M campus, Corene has had the privilege to be involved in Student
Government both as a Northside Senator and a member of the Student Service Fee Advisory Board.
Serving as a Fish Camp Counselor for two years, she has had the opportunity to watch her freshmen grow
into confident Aggies. Last year she worked as a Resident Advisor in Rudder Hall acquiring understanding
and priceless experience while providing guidance and supervision for others. She is currently working at
the University Writing Center where, as a Writing Consultant, she tutors ESL students who have questions
about writing assignments. Since her freshman year, Corene has been very involved in the Texas A&M
Honors Program and a member of the Honor’s Student Council, having been elected Secretary of this
organization just last year. Upon her acceptance to A&M, she was selected to participate in the College of
Liberal Arts Cornerstone Honors Program where she gained valuable insight into international
relationships. Corene was also chosen to serve in the Lambda Sigma Honor Society, where she held the
position of Secretary, and she is currently serving as the Treasurer of the English Honor Society. She is
continually looking for opportunities to sharpen her leadership skills.
Corene is dedicated to using her experience through AFIL to not only gain valuable knowledge about our
changing world, but also to create and nurture personal relationships that will propel her and those around
her to succeed in accomplishing their goals.
Priscila Villarreal
Marketing
Priscila Villarreal is a senior marketing major from Arlington, TX. She was born in
Monterrey, Mexico, but has lived in Arlington since she was nine years old after her dad was
offered a sales position in the Dallas territory. All of her family is from Mexico, but she is a
second generation Aggie, following the steps of her dad, class of ‘83. Priscila is currently
obtaining a minor in history along with her marketing degree. The minor in history is just to enrich one of
her passions.
Priscila has been active with her time at Texas A&M. She applied for Fish Camp counselor for two years,
and she was involved mentoring incoming freshmen during two summers and the semesters following their
arrival at A&M. As a freshman Priscila also became involved with the Mexican Student Association. Her
sophomore year she was the Vice-President and, along with two other members, started rebuilding the
association from scratch. Last year, Priscila was the President of the Mexican Student Association, thus
continuing to aid in the growth of the association.
Her international experience consists of being raised in Mexico and the U.S., thus sharing cultural
education experiences in both countries. Priscila continues to travel to Monterrey to visit for the holidays,
and during the summer of 2006 Priscila enrolled in Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey (Monterrey Tec) for
summer school to experience study abroad that summer. During the summer of 2008, Priscila continued to
gain international experience by studying abroad in Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Madrid, Spain.
It was a most rewarding and enriching experience for her since crossing the Atlantic also allowed her to
travel to other countries in Western Europe. This upcoming summer she hopes to return to Europe to gain
work experience through an internship abroad.
After she graduates in December 2009, Priscila is unsure as to the career path that she will follow. Priscila
has a strong desire to travel to Brazil after having taken Portuguese classes since her sophomore year in
college (unfortunately A&M doesn’t offer a minor in Portuguese). Priscila hopes to travel to Brazil and
Latin America for a couple of months after graduation, and then is open on the location of her job. She
would like to work in public relations for an international company, but is open to the idea of working
abroad or staying in the U.S.
Priscila is enthusiastic about the opportunity of participating in AFIL because it will add to her
international educational by being surrounded by globally interested Aggies. She hopes to be exposed to
more international issues, thus allowing her to grow more as a leader through AFIL.