Fall 2012 Program Scholars

Girolama Bui '13

Girolama is a senior at the College of William & Mary and is a Public Health and Biology Double Major. Originally from Newport News, VA he has just returned from a summer being a Sullivan Foundation’s Social Entrepreneurship Institute Fellow in Costa Rica. Back on campus, Girolama is involved with being an active member of Alpha Phi Omega, Sailing Club Team, W&M Orientation, an executive member of W&M Dance Marathon, and also a lab researcher in Microbiology.  Girolama looks forward to gaining as much experience as possible from his time in DC learning more about sustainability in hopes of better preparing him for his future career path in Public Health. Girolama plans to further his education in pursuing an MPH after graduating.

Sara Clark '14

Sara is a junior majoring in Government and Environmental Science & Policy. On campus, she is on the executive board of the Club Field Hockey team and is an active member of Operation Smile, Bridges to Community, and Project KREO. Sara is passionate about all things environmental, specifically renewable energy, thanks to her on campus research investigating clean energy investment in developing countries. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends, playing field hockey, reading, and relaxing in the Sunken Gardens, her favorite spot on campus. Having lived outside of Philadelphia her entire life, she is very excited to spend the semester in DC and live, work, and study in a politically motivated, fast-paced city.

Akshay Deverakonda '15

Akshay Deverakonda is a sophomore at the College from Herndon, Virginia, and is pursuing a double major in Environmental Science and Policy as well as International Relations. He first became interested in environmental policy through the Sharpe Community Scholars Program this past year, where he is currently designing and implementing a service project related to sustainable pond oxygenation at a local farm. This work led him to become interested in low-cost, environmentally sustainable means of development. He is also interested in organic food grown locally, solving the problem of food desert systems, as well as alternative energy. On campus, he is Vice President for Programming on his dormitory’s Hall Council, a member of the Students Environmental Action Coalition, Botany Club, and South Asian Student Association. He also volunteers at Campus Kitchens several times a month. Akshay is especially involved in interfaith activism, and is a participant in the President’s Interfaith Challenge. In his spare time, he likes jogging, doing Sudoku puzzles, keeping up with current events, and encouraging his hallmates to turn off the lights when leaving a room. After graduation, Akshay intends to go to graduate school in preparation for a career working in environmental development in third world countries.

David Henry '14

Currently a Junior at the College, David Henry is majoring in Government and minoring in Economics.  He is originally from the South side of Chicago just a stones throw away from the best hotdogs in the world.  He is currently a member of the William and Mary Club Water Polo team and also enjoys cycling. As a freshman, David was a research assistant for the Chesapeake Algae Project in which he worked on the farming of algae and turning it into a burnable biofuel. David’s primary achievement is his fundraiser “Momma Henry’s Trek Across America” to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of his mother, Antonia Henry. He loves his family and above all being content with his life. He is looking forward to his semester in Washington with great anticipation and hopes that his experience will lead him into a career in alternative energy.

Annika Jersild '13

Annika is a senior at William & Mary. She is an applied math major with a minor in Environmental Sciences. She developed her passion for the environment while interning through the Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow Fellowship, at NASA Langley Research Center (summer 2010) and with the Elizabeth River Project (summer 2011). She also researches at Virginia Institute of Marine Science with Professor Emmett Duffy, studying seagrass biodiversity. While on campus, she is a brother of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and a member of the William & Mary Guitar Ensemble. In her free time, Annika enjoys reading, playing guitar, and spending time outdoors.

Cora Kessler '13

Cora Kessler, from Charlottesville, VA, is a senior Sociology major at the College. She has recently returned from a summer semester in Cape Town, South Africa where she participated in a Global Studies internship, tutoring young students. She enjoys volunteering and spent spring break working with disabled individuals in Richmond, VA. She has previously interned with the Virginia Department of Health to organize focus groups for a sociological study where they researched attitudes toward the flu vaccine. Cora also hopes to connect her sociological interests with her enthusiasm for environmental awareness. In Santa Cruz, CA, she interned at a sustainable farm and learned about alternative methods of farming. She is open minded to future career paths but currently sees herself in the teaching field or working for an environmentally-focused NGO. In her free time she likes to cook, do art projects, hike, and travel. She is very much looking forward to the new adventures and experiences that are sure to come this Fall. 

Elizabeth Hampton Scott '14

David Secor '14

David is a junior at the College, pursuing a double major in Government and History. Before turning ten, David had the luxury of living abroad in Paris, before returning to the States to Vienna, Virginia.  On campus, David is the Philanthropy Chair of the Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity and works part time at William & Mary Hall as a Facilities & Operations Student Assistant.  He is particularly interested in politics, public administration, and history.  Having spent time on both Democratic and Republican political campaigns in the past, David is excited about spending more time in Washington and learning more about energy and environmental policymaking.  David plans on attending graduate school and working in the public sector later in life.  In his spare time he enjoys running, playing intramural sports, writing and playing music, travelling, and reading about the world.

Lia Servidio '13

Lia is a senior at the College of William & Mary originally from Holliston, Massachusetts.  She is majoring in Kinesiology & Health Sciences and minoring in Biology.  With a passion for science, Lia is a student researcher in the Molecular and Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory studying the effects of resistance training on cardiovascular health.  In addition, Lia is interested in environmental health, particularly the negative health effects of indoor air pollution.  She enjoys being involved on campus and is a brother in the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, a member of Passing Notes A Cappella, and an employee at the Music Library.  In her free time, Lia enjoys baking, attending Body Pump classes, and watching movies with friends.  After graduation, Lia plans to attend medical school and pursuit a career in clinical medicine.

Tom Wittig '14

Tom Wittig is a junior at the College of William and Mary. In addition to a Government major, Tom is pursuing a minor in Environmental Science and Policy. As a research assistant with the Project on Environment, Food, and Conflict, he has been working with Professor Cullen Hendrix to compile a database on social conflict in the Middle East. Tom is working fulltime on the Project this summer. During his free time, Tom enjoys reading modern fiction, playing guitar, and knocking a soccer ball around. He hopes to attend law school or earn a master’s in Public Policy after leaving the College. A native of the small town of Dansville, located in Western New York, Tom spent much of his childhood hiking local parks and woods. He hopes to find what city life is like in the nation’s exciting capital and is determined to master riding the Metro. Tom is eager to discover the political side of environmentalism while in Washington.