Another major campus organization, Northwestern Community Development Corps, will be co-chaired by juniors Michael Alperin and Alyssa Detwiler next year. NCDC engages about 750 students in community development on campus, in Evanston and throughout Chicago. At the recent Student Recognition Banquet, NCDC received the award for outstanding student organization.
In addition, the head of student government at Northwestern is a SESP junior, Claire Lew. She is the newly elected president of Associated Student Government.This year, seniors Maddie Orenstein and Aaron Beswick were co-chairs of Freshman Urban Program, a pre-orientation program for incoming freshmen focused on urban issues. Orenstein, junior Stephanie Arias, sophomore Jake Rosner and freshmen Becca Portman and Alexa Herzog also head the Northwestern University Public Interest Program, a fellowship program to train leaders for social change through public interest work, seminars and alumni mentorship.
In addition, the Global Engagement Summit, a five-day conference that trains students for social change around the world, was co-directed by seniors Megha Agrawal and Allie Bream. At the recent Student Recognition Banquet the summit was honored as the outstanding community service event.
Other SESP leaders who head campus organizations include Lucas Artaiz, Interfraternity Council; Ama Appenteng, African Student Association; Merrie Aaron, Hillel; Erin Bishop, Amnesty International; Emmaline Pohnl, SEED environment group; Zoya Kolkin, STAND anti-genocide group; Rachael Suffrin, Camp Kesem; and Neha Sobti, Operation Smile.
Claire Olszewski and Priya Suresh head a cappella groups, and junior Rosey Martinez is the newly elected president of Promote 360, the student organization dedicated to empowering minority young people. Senior Alex Sims is past president.
"SESP has a small student body but the most engaged student body, the most socially conscious student body," says Alperin, the co-chair of NCDC. "A lot of people want to make a difference."
Photo caption: Megha Agrawal, who is shown here with Freshman Urban Program, was co-director of the 2010 Global Engagement Summit.