Class acts: Five accomplished students to keep an eye on

David Finkelstein, 21, junior in economics & political science

For David Finkelstein, the events of Sept. 11 were life-altering, as they were for many people. But he didn’t react as he might have been expected to as a young Jewish man: he began taking courses in Arabic language and culture to learn more about the Middle East. He made friends with Arab students.

“September 11 was a real watershed, as far as figuring out a direction for my life,” David said. “I had so many questions, and no answers. I saw my country under attack, and I saw a huge gulf opening up between the U.S. and the Arab world, out of lack of understanding of each other.”

As an officer in ASU Students for Israel, David said his friends thought he was crazy when he joined and became active in the Arabic Culture Club. But he was successful in bringing the two groups together for dialogue, and he began organizing speakers and panels on topics relating to the Middle East in his residence hall.

In January he left to study Arabic language for several months at the American University of Cairo in Egypt, having won a National Security Education Program grant. He said his parents are concerned for his safety, but he thinks he’ll be fine.

“Some of my best friends now are Arabs. It took a while for them to come around, but once they knew my intentions and who I am, we forged great friendships.

“I feel lucky to have been born an American, and to have had the opportunities I’ve had. I want to have a greater cultural understanding, because the more we can learn about each other, the more we can work together. I hope to attend law school and become a diplomat for the Department of State.”

 

Jared Niska, 22, December ‘04 graduate in bioengineering

He was a self-described jock in high school, eating and breathing baseball, doing just enough work in classes to stay on the honor roll. But when Jared Niska broke his hand in his senior year, dreams of a baseball career ended and Jared discovered another focus.

He got involved in undergraduate research the second semester of his freshman year, and became a star in the lab instead. Mentored by professors who showed him the ropes, by his junior year he was working on brain cancer research at Barrow Neurological Institute and then at TGen, the Translational Genomics Institute.

Now he’s working on a promising clinical treatment for glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that usually kills in less than a year. He arranged a collaboration between TGen and the ASU Department of Bioengineering to develop an implantable drug delivery device, and the work is progressing toward animal trials.

“When I came to ASU, I wasn’t sure what path to pursue. But when I found out about the research being conducted in the various labs at ASU, I applied for and was accepted into the Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology program …that experience and the BREU program (also undergraduate research) have made all the difference.”

Jared has applied to several M.D.-Ph.D. programs and plans a career in cancer research. And before he decides which graduate program to attend, he’s off to Argentina and Chile this spring, to increase his proficiency in Spanish and volunteer at several medical clinics.

In February Niska was named as one of the top 40 undergraduate students in the nation, earning a Second Team spot on the USA Today’s annual All-USA Academic Team.

 

Corinne Widmer, 20, senior in political science and religious studies

Political candidates and policy-makers take Corinne Widmer seriously. She was a dynamo of activity for months leading up to last fall’s elections, acting as a student campaign coordinator, walking door to door on Saturdays, passing out literature and registering voters.

She organized a “Voterpalooza” in her dorm to register 60 new voters, and she founded Educate Vote Empower, an organization for women voters that brings speakers to campus. And on election day, Corinne brought dozens of residents to the nearest polling location in a Race to the Polls, standing outside all day to pass out literature while voters stood in line for up to five hours.

But it’s not about politics, said Corinne. It’s about getting candidates elected who will address the issues of the working poor and help create a better living environment for everyone.

“I grew up in the south side of Chicago, where my parents and I did a lot of volunteer work at homeless centers, so it was ingrained in me to have empathy for people,” Corinne said. “But it wasn’t until I came to ASU that I became increasingly aware of my privileged status in the world. Studying global politics and religion has helped me see how politics affect people.”

Corinne was an intern for the World Hunger Ecumenical Arizona Taskforce, and a volunteer for Amnesty International, putting on advocacy fairs on campus. Her favorite project has been working with a Somali refugee family as part of the International Rescue Committee.

“I played with the kids and taught them English each week,” she said. “They were in a refugee camp for eight years. It was a really wonderful experience, one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”

Scott MacIntyre, 19, senior in piano performance

When Scott MacIntyre asked to audition for the School of Music in the Herberger College of Fine Arts, the faculty members were reluctant. He was only 14, after all, and he had the additional challenge of being blind.

Reluctance gave way to astonishment as Scott began his studies, making his way confidently around the campus with a cane, amazing Piano Professor Walter Cosand with his uncanny ability to learn and perform the most difficult classical pieces.

Scott made his orchestral debut at 15, performing as guest piano soloist with the Phoenix Symphony to a standing-room only audience. Encouraged by Cosand and his other music professors, he has since performed with the symphony five more times, won numerous piano competitions and produced five CDs.

In December 2004 he won the coveted Marshall Scholarship, one of only 40 in the nation, providing full funding for two years of graduate study at Britain’s Cambridge University and the Royal Conservatory of Music. In February has was named one of the top 20 undergraduate students in the nation, earning First Team status on USA Today’s All-USA Academic Team.

“My love for music has more than compensated for my lack of vision,” said Scott, who was born with two degrees of tunnel vision. “Because I cannot, for instance, play baseball, music has become my sport. It is the most exhilarating thrill to execute a stellar performance without the benefit of sight.”

Scott completed his other schoolwork with the aid of a computer scanner, tape recordings and magnifying glasses. He reads sheet music note by note, and memorizes it one hand at a time. Scott also sings, plays the drums, designs computer games, hikes, swims and skis with a sighted guide.

“My experience at ASU has been wonderful, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” said Scott. “The professors are amazing. They really connect with students.”

Taylor Jackson, 21, junior in biology and society

Taylor Jackson wanted to explore his twin passions for the natural world and the community, so last summer he spent several weeks in Malaysian Borneo, living in a bamboo hut in a rainforest village. He co-wrote a low-impact ecotourism development plan for SOS Rhino, a non-governmental agency that works to protect the Sumatran rhinos of the Tabin Wildlife reserve.

Taylor helped track rhinos through the dense rainforest and studied the medicinal plants of the Tidong-Dusun people. Most of all, he got to know the villagers, so he could enlist their help as caretakers of the reserve.

“I wanted to respect their values and their way of life,” said Taylor, who grew up biking around the countryside near his hometown of Hattiesburg, Miss. “The villagers provided us with housing and food, so I ate a lot of fish and rice. You have to eat it very fast with your hands, and smack your lips so they know you like it.”

Last year he founded Students for Environmental Action, organizing an Earth Day celebration to bring several environmental groups to campus. This spring the group is hosting a series of workshops at a Local to Global Justice Teach-in.

“I’d never thought of coming to ASU,” said the ASU junior, who was contacted as a National Merit Scholar. “Then I got a call from Dean Humphrey asking me to fly out and interview for the Gammage Scholarship. I did, and I fell in love with ASU.”

One of the things that impressed Taylor most was the informal conversations students had with professors, especially at the on-campus hangout for honors students.

“I loved seeing students and professors having great conversations at Charlie’s Café, with ideas popping up out of nowhere about books and movies and ways of approaching life,” he said. “It seemed like a place where I could get a good education.”

As one of 10 Gammage Scholars, he’s developed a plan to improve the energy efficiency of homes in a low-income area of Phoenix. Using a $5,000 grant from the Barrett Honors College, the scholars will spend several weekends this spring caulking windows, replacing light fixtures, planting shade trees and doing general renovation.

Taylor hikes, rock climbs, and does environmental service projects as vice president of the Great Outdoors Club. He also plays guitar and is part of an African drumming ensemble.