2008 Woodie Awards
Meeting Marist: Cunningham class president balances many campus roles
Laura Monroe
Issue date: 4/15/04 Section: Features
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Night has fallen in Enfield, Conn., and local teenagers are outfitting themselves in their best black outfits. The girls are pulling their hair into ponytails, and the boys are collecting spare cans of Benjamin Moore.
As they stealthily make their way through tobacco fields and scattered sleeping cows, their adrenaline increases and they anticipate another night of barn painting. Hours later, they walk away knowing that their names are proudly displayed on the side of yet another local barn and that thankfully, no one has gone to jail.
Though this may not be a traditional evening in the suburbs, to one Marist student, it was just a way to make her mark on the world.
But today, she is making her mark in another way. In only three short semesters, Kellie Cunningham, 20, has secured her place in the Marist community.
Currently in her second term as class president, Cunningham is also vice-president of Marian Hall's Resident Student Council (R.S.C.), holds two board positions in her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau (A.S.T.), works six hours a week at the Marist library, and maintains a 3.0 GPA.
Cunningham said she was recommended to R.S.C. during her freshman year after transferring to Marist from the University of Rhode Island. Hoping to meet people and make new friends, she also decided to also to join the Student Government Association (S.G.A.).
"I just kind of ended up doing all of this stuff," she said. "And I'm so glad I did. It keeps me on my toes."
According to Cunningham, she devotes no less than five hours a week to each of her activities. She has office hours, obligatory meetings, and fund-raisers, not to mention the time it takes to plan all of the events she helps to host for her assorted activities.
"I really love everything I do. That's why I spend so much time on everything," she said. "But I'm most committed to my sorority," she said with a smile, "because they're my best friends."
Cunningham said her sorority is a great way for her to fit a social life into her hectic schedule, which otherwise leaves little free time.
As they stealthily make their way through tobacco fields and scattered sleeping cows, their adrenaline increases and they anticipate another night of barn painting. Hours later, they walk away knowing that their names are proudly displayed on the side of yet another local barn and that thankfully, no one has gone to jail.
Though this may not be a traditional evening in the suburbs, to one Marist student, it was just a way to make her mark on the world.
But today, she is making her mark in another way. In only three short semesters, Kellie Cunningham, 20, has secured her place in the Marist community.
Currently in her second term as class president, Cunningham is also vice-president of Marian Hall's Resident Student Council (R.S.C.), holds two board positions in her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau (A.S.T.), works six hours a week at the Marist library, and maintains a 3.0 GPA.
Cunningham said she was recommended to R.S.C. during her freshman year after transferring to Marist from the University of Rhode Island. Hoping to meet people and make new friends, she also decided to also to join the Student Government Association (S.G.A.).
"I just kind of ended up doing all of this stuff," she said. "And I'm so glad I did. It keeps me on my toes."
According to Cunningham, she devotes no less than five hours a week to each of her activities. She has office hours, obligatory meetings, and fund-raisers, not to mention the time it takes to plan all of the events she helps to host for her assorted activities.
"I really love everything I do. That's why I spend so much time on everything," she said. "But I'm most committed to my sorority," she said with a smile, "because they're my best friends."
Cunningham said her sorority is a great way for her to fit a social life into her hectic schedule, which otherwise leaves little free time.