When describing Annika Nygren, no one could have done a more eloquent job than her friend Mercedes MacAlpine ’16, who presented Nygren as “pretty much sunshine in human form.”
“Her smile is radiant, her positivity and sincerity are contagious, her mind is always working, and her resting state is one of compassion and harmony,” MacAlpine said.
“You have a girl crush,” my teammates responded, after I finally stopped raving about the hour I spent interviewing Rachael Abernethy at breakfast.
I opened my mouth to protest, but further consideration resulted in unabashed agreement. I was starstruck. Abernethy was everything I, as an incoming first-year, imagined an Amherst student would be. We met for a crowded 9 a.m. Val breakfast, but even amongst the gossip, debate, and chatter, Abernethy made me feel as though I was the only person in the room.
Most students recognize Ben Walker for his campus activism surrounding divestment, or for his many accolades — the most recent being the prestigious Watson Fellowship and his honors law, jurisprudence and social thought thesis. Despite his accomplishments, in person Walker is refreshingly down-to-earth.
Professor Geoffrey Sanborn, who taught Walker in two classes, said he “loved the kind of warm, open, curious presence that [Ben] brings to the room.” He added: “His seriousness is never far from his playfulness, and he’s just basically a huge pleasure to be around.”
First-years, sophomores and juniors who attended the resident counselor show during orientation week will remember hearing the talented Michael Harmon singing a heartfelt ballad called “Most Beautiful Girl on the Quad.” The song, an Amherst-themed version of the Flight of the Conchords song “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room,” was my first impression of the charismatic Resident Counselor. There’s probably no better person to welcome new students to Amherst. A natural performer, Harmon is beloved on campus for his charm and infectious energy.
First-years, sophomores and juniors who attended the resident counselor show during orientation week will remember hearing the talented Michael Harmon singing a heartfelt ballad called “Most Beautiful Girl on the Quad.” The song, an Amherst-themed version of the Flight of the Conchords song “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room,” was my first impression of the charismatic Resident Counselor. There’s probably no better person to welcome new students to Amherst. A natural performer, Harmon is beloved on campus for his charm and infectious energy.
My first introduction to Mercedes MacAlpine came as my Community Engagement Orientation trip leader during first-year orientation. She was everything I expected an Amherst student to be, and everything I hoped to embody. Within an hour of meeting MacAlpine, her infectious effervescence and leadership had already inspired a group of 30 timid first-years.
Born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents but raised in the United States, Tomi Williams was forced to learn how to make himself at home in any environment. At Amherst, this adaptability led to a successful political career for the two-term Association of Amherst Students president.
