2024 Senior Spotlights

It’s the time of year when we congratulate our graduating seniors and wish them well! The Einhorn Center team thanks all the students who work with us, lead and participate in our programs and help build the culture of community engagement at Cornell! Here are a few:

Annika Ajay ’24
Annika Ajay ’24

Community Partnership Funding Board

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

Minors: Computer Science; Inequality Studies; Business

“Serving CPFB’s mission of supporting grassroots initiatives that connect students and the community has defined my undergraduate experience.

“I have immensely enjoyed working together with an incredible and dedicated team of CPFB board members, Einhorn Center staff and friends at the center. Thank you for all of your passion, support and wisdom — I am proud of us for taking our program to the next level in order to continue to center the community in our actions for social justice!”

John Capwell ’24
John Capwell ’24

Language Expansion Program

Major: Policy Analysis and Management

Minors: Human Development; Law & Society

“I have made so many friends through LEP and Einhorn Center, and I feel like this was such a major part of my development and my life at Cornell these past four years. LEP has been so important to me, and I have loved being a part of it.”

Olivia Ochoa ’24
Olivia Ochoa ’24

Translator Interpreter Program

Majors: Spanish; American Studies

Minor: Latino/a/e Studies

“The Translator Interpreter Program has formed me in so many ways. Not only contributing to my perspective on social justice and service learning in addition to aiding in my individual professional development, it has been incredible to dedicate my time to actually providing concrete resources to the greater Ithaca community. Putting my money where my mouth is has been infinitely rewarding, and as a child of Limited English Proficiency immigrants, it has been so empowering to provide the services my own family could have used while I was growing up.

“Carrying the burden of student leadership has been an honor in my time with TIP, and I’m so grateful to our advisor, Joyce Muchan, and all the student leaders who paved the way before me. I will treasure the memories I’ve made with the rest of my Executive Board for years to come. The fire for language equity and access has been lit, and I look forward to continuing this fight! Congratulations to all the other Einhorn Center seniors for their incredible accomplishments within the center and at Cornell. Here’s to us!”

Claire Parmenter ’24
Claire Parmenter ’24

Language Expansion Program

Major: Linguistics

Minor: French

“Through LEP, I have gained confidence in myself as a leader.

“LEP is not only a place for the thing I love most, language, but also a place for making friends and expanding your horizons. I have seen people come out of their shell at Language Corners and on our e-board, and I am proud to have been a part of an organization that makes such a difference in both language access and fun!”

Laila Rahbari ’24
Laila Rahbari ’24

Social Justice Leadership Council 

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

Minors: Law and Society; Near Eastern Studies

“My favorite part about working in the Einhorn Center has been the relationships I have built with students, staff and community partners.”

Sydney Rosen ’24
Sydney Rosen ’24

Art Beyond Cornell

Major: Biological Sciences

“ABC has allowed me to step outside the bubble of Cornell and connect with a population I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to meet. Art is a really powerful alternative means of connection. In turn, I hope the work we created with the young men at the MacCormick Secure Center will help share the humanity and personalities of the artists with the outside community.”

Angelina Tang ’24
Angelina Tang ’24

Big Red Buddies

Major: Global and Public Health Sciences

“Every time I step into the classroom at Head Start, everything else fades away. Watching the children I work with grow and develop into their unique selves has been such a treasure. I’ve laughed at funny books with them, helped teach them how to talk and walk, and even had my portrait drawn. I can’t help but smile every time I see them!

“It has similarly been a joy to see our Buddies grow along with our students. They’ve accomplished so much and had such an amazing impact on our community. I’m so proud of them and the connections we’ve built and the memories we’ve made together.”

Rahul Verma ’24
Rahul Verma ’24

Cornell Votes

Major: Global and Public Health Sciences

Minor: Inequality Studies

“Cornell Votes has been a pivotal part of my experience at Cornell and has shaped my understanding of service and engagement.

“As part of the Einhorn Center, I found a community of passionate leaders interested in diverse topics and interests. The program advisors were the most supportive individuals, helping both with our program needs and as individuals. The members of Cornell Votes have shown me how committed and passionate Cornell students are to making an impact in the community. Joyce [Muchan, Cornell Votes program advisor] has been one of the most essential pillars of support I have had over my time at Cornell. Overall, I could not have asked for a better community to have been a part of over my time at Cornell.”

Amelia Wildermuth ’24
Amelia Wildermuth ’24

Translator Interpreter Program

Majors: Human Biology; Health and Society

“I love that TIP has allowed me to work with like-minded students to reduce language barriers and promote cultural awareness in the community.”

Veronica Zellers ’24
Veronica Zellers ’24

Art Beyond Cornell

Major: Health Care Policy

Minor: French; Law and Society

“ABC completely changed my life. I had never been inside a prison before joining the program, and having the privilege to do so opened my eyes to an issue that I will never turn from now. The way art in this context has the ability to humanize people that have been cast aside and give us access to one another is really unique.

“This work is the only thing that really lights a fire in me, and I plan to continue taking action on juvenile justice reform and prison reform more generally for the rest of my life.”

Sarina Zhou ’24
Sarina Zhou ’24

Art Beyond Cornell

Major: Economics

Minor: Law and Society

“Art Beyond Cornell has been a crucial, defining part of my time here at Cornell. I am incredibly grateful to have been part of a community of young people dedicated to serving justice-impacted and incarcerated youth to create a more just society. Being part of Art Beyond Cornell and the Einhorn community has given me the opportunity to make life-long friends while striving for social justice. Thank you to all of my ABC and Einhorn friends and especially Joyce Muchan for being some of the most supportive, dedicated and amazing people! <3”