News
Four outstanding soon-to-be alumnae join Tufts Alumni Council
April 23, 2012
The Tufts University Alumni Association welcomes seniors Danielle Cotter, Kristen Davenport, Kate de Klerk, and Sharmaine Oh as the elected Class of 2012 Transitional Members to the Tufts Alumni Council (TAC). Since 2000, the TAC has made four positions available for graduating seniors in an effort to expand the role of young alumni leadership.
The Class of 2012 voted in strong numbers for these outstanding alumnae, showing a commitment to the alumni community that has already welcomed them with open arms.
Kristen Davenport, A12
 Kristen Davenport, A12 |
On Kristen Davenport’s, A12, first day at Tufts, she didn’t have time to be nervous—the farm girl with a pet goat named Charisma had not only just wrapped up working the state fair and a summer internship, she had also just beat out 33 other girls to become the New York State Dairy Princess.
With only a day to pack and get herself to the Hill, Davenport says “it was wild” but she’s used to diving into experiences head first—and keeping busy.
“It’s sort of been a trend in my life,” she says.
From LCS tutoring to late nights with her biochemistry books; from playing piccolo and “crashing symbols here and there” in pep band to giving campus tours; from applying to work in Facilities (“I missed mulching”) to making friends who constantly surprise and educate her (“like learning how to keep a Kosher kitchen”), “Kristen is perpetually in motion,” says Mitch McVey, associate professor of biology and Davenport’s advisor.
Aside from these myriad activities, she’s also dedicated time to JumboCast, intramural volleyball, the Financial Aid Student Advisory Board, and studying global health and tropical medicine in Costa Rica. Adds McVey, “She approaches each of her experiences as a unique learning opportunity and embraces diversity.”
She also, quite clearly, fully embraces Tufts and its alumni. As part of the Student Ambassador Program, Davenport has interviewed nearly 60 alumni on all things brown and blue, hoping to help the Office of Alumni Relations develop programming that will make it easier for alumni—“especially broke/busy young alumni,” she adds—to participate.
Looking back on the past four years, Davenport has given her all because it’s her nature and, says the future D.V.M. and microbiologist who will be studying zoonotic diseases, because she was given a gift. “Being at Tufts surrounded by people your age but with totally different backgrounds,” she says, “that’s just a huge learning opportunity, and I think we need to make sure that everybody who deserves it can get their hands on it.”
 Kate de Klerk, A12 |
Kate de Klerk, A12
Kate de Klerk, A12, leaves Tufts with a degree in international relations with a focus on global health, nutrition, and the environment. Her campus involvement, however, goes beyond diverse academics. De Klerk has served as a TCU senator and TCU Treasurer, an EMT with Tufts Emergency Medical Service (TEMS), director of finance for TEMS, as well as a trainer for new EMTs coming through the program. She’s also played rugby and given tours to prospective students.
De Klerk says she sees the Alumni Council as the perfect way to stay involved and give back to the school that has given her so much over the years.
 Sharmaine Oh, A12 |
Sharmaine Oh, A12
9,741 miles from Singapore, Tufts has become a home away from home for Sharmaine Oh, A12. Tufts, says Oh, is where she's made countless life-changing friendship with students from all over the world and learned the most formative lessons. Oh will be heading back to Singapore this summer; running for this position is her way to keep in touch with the Class of 2012 and keep connected to fellow alumni.
Oh’s Tufts career includes a double major in quantitative economics and international relations with a special interest in urbanism, time studying abroad at Peking University in Beijing, Tufts Energy Forum, Tufts Christian Fellowhip, Anchord (Tufts Christian a cappella group, Singapore Students Association, and most recently, the EPIIC 2011-2012 community, and Sigma Iota Rho. Oh says she’s excited to serve the needs of her class as they move beyond the Hill and, more importantly, she hopes to maintain the connectivity and networks of her class.
 Danielle Cotter, A12 |
Danielle Cotter, A12
From student government and Greek life to LCS and Tufts Dance Collective, Danielle Cotter, A12, has kept busy at Tufts. But for her, it’s the people who have made her time here so worthwhile, which is why Cotter is looking forward to being a part of the TAC and keep her class engaged and excited about their role as alumni long after graduation.
Cotter says she believes it is her class’s turn to take up the alumni torch and make future Jumbos proud to join the ranks someday and be proud of Tufts Alumni!
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