I’ve spent the past three years admiring Kim Bain from a distance. Literally from a distance, as in straining my neck over a frenzied audience to see her dominate a DASAC show or watching her TA from the back of my 80-person English class. She’s kind of a big deal.

Veteran of multiple dance groups, indispensable member of the English Department Steering Committee and winner of this year’s Elizabeth Bruss Prize, Bain is a powerhouse — and that’s just what those of us who admire her from a distance get to see.

One would be hard-pressed to find someone on campus who hasn’t heard Liya Rechtman’s name or a facet of Amherst life that she hasn’t touched. Through her vocal presence as an activist, a journalist and academic, Rechtman is unafraid to challenge norms and is never content to accept what is over what could be. Her passion and dedication to reshaping Amherst culture is unparalleled, and although future classes may not know it, the legacy she leaves behind will be lasting.

Puppetry and SATs

It was a drizzly May morning in Beneski, and Matt DeButts was one of many seniors basking in post-thesis glory, enjoying the brief respite between the due date for his law, jurisprudence and social thought thesis and the onset of finals. But while most seniors might have regaled me with tales of the arduous research process, the intricacies of their argument or the late nights spent in Frost, DeButts did not. In fact, over the course of our hour-long interview, he never once brought up his thesis — which I only later learned is about abandoned spaces in Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Conquering adversity is always a part of life for athletes. The greatest players in sports have an extraordinary ability to motivate themselves, overcome obstacles and capitalize upon every opportunity that comes their way. Div. III National Player of the Year Aaron Toomey, senior point guard on the men’s basketball team, has certainly had to conquer some adversity during his basketball career — he ended up at Amherst after a high school injury left him unable to play Div. I ball. And yet, Toomey never let any injury stop him.

There is no simple way to describe Yilin Andre Wang — he refuses to be categorized. He’s served as a senator in the Association of Amherst Students for two years. He’s served as a co-chair of Pride Alliance and the Chinese Student Association. He was chosen to be the student speaker at TedXAmherstCollege. He wrote for The Amherst Student’s Arts & Living section for three years. Wang is a dancer, a choreographer, a researcher, a child prodigy, a leader, a trilingual, an openly gay male international student from China and a good friend.

Steamboat Springs, Colo., otherwise known as “Ski Town U.S.A," is home to more Winter Olympians than any other place in the country. It is also home to senior biochemistry major Christopher Finch, who moved to the mountain town when he was seven years old. While he may not be a competitive skier, Finch still took advantage of all Colorado had to offer by staying active, playing hockey and exploring the great outdoors.

Team Player

The paper you hold in your hands would not be what it is today without Brianda Reyes. The Student’s former editor-in-chief has left an indelible mark on not just the paper, but on the college and perhaps even the country. That all this happened before she turned 20 is impressive. That this is only a fragment of her life as an undocumented immigrant, a dreamer and student is extraordinary.

Finding Fluency

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