Link - SPHINX Senior Class Honorary - The Ohio State University

In this LINK:
The 102nd Class: Who are they? 101 & Not Forgotten:Where are they now?

As the newest members of Sphinx, we have been
afforded the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a group of
people whose dedication to academics, service and this
University is truly extraordinary. As Fall Quarter comes to
an end, the 102nd class has already established a standard
of excellence, having studied abroad in Ireland and China;
presented award-winning research; celebrated Homecoming
with eight members on Court, including this year’s
queen; served as contributing citizens by working on political
campaigns; and volunteered as tutors, builders, and
helping hands in surrounding communities and around the
world.
In the last few months, we have come to understand
that this organization reaches far beyond each member’s
current involvements. Sphinx is genuinely about
meaningful relationships. While it is a great honor to be
inducted into a senior class honorary, our names on a roster
mean nothing without the memories that bind them. We are
an organization brought together by our ideals and preserved
by our friendships. Most students will conclude
their experience six months from now, but we know that
our friendships will serve as a bridge into the next chapters
of our lives.
The 102nd class still has a great deal of time to enjoy
as active links and exciting things to accomplish. In the
upcoming months, Sphinx will help University Development
fundraise for the 100th Anniversary gift to the new
Ohio Union, perpetuate this impressive tradition by selecting
the next class, and continue to celebrate our cherished
time at our Alma Mater. I look forward to living the next
six months as some of the best of my life, with 23 newfound
friends.
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Mark Torrez
President
102nd Class
Andrew Aten is a Biology (pre-medicine)
major from Centerville, Ohio. Aten bursts
with enthusiasm and energy for Ohio State
at various athletic events as Brutus Buckeye
and is committed to serving the Columbus
and Ohio State communities
through volunteer work at The Ohio State University
Medical Center. As a brother of the Ohio State chapter
of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, he serves on its Judicial
Board. Aten was also a member of Chimes Junior Class
Honorary and dedicates time to research.
Barbara Barash is a Biology (premedicine)
major from Blacklick, Ohio and
is involved in many organizations, including
Mirrors and Chimes Class Honoraries,
Student-Alumni Council, and volunteers at
The Ohio State University Medical Center.
In Student-Alumni Council, Barash is
dedicated to serving students – past, present,
and future – in various roles, including Student-
Alumni Liaison Program Coordinator, Vice-President
of Communications, and the current president.
Victoria Bouttavong is a Journalism
major and Spanish minor from Elmore,
Ohio. Vicki has empowered her peers as
a Buckeyethon morale captain, a mentor
in the Office of Minority Affairs, and is a
member of the Buckeye Leadership Society.
Dedicated to a future career in broadcasting,
Vicki is active with Buckeye TV and served as
an intern for the news channels ABC 6 and FOX 28.
She is committed to improving student life on campus
by serving as vice-president for the nationallyrecognized
Ohio Union Activities Board.
Kyle Brewer is a nursing major from
Euclid, Ohio. Kyle’s commitment to
serving others is exemplified by his various
community efforts. As a member of
Students Engaging in Responsible Volunteering
(SERV) Team, he led a team of
over 100 students to Purdue University to
promote inter-campus relations through
volunteering. Kyle has immersed himself in the cultures
of other countries, especially through his study
abroad experience in Mexico. He personified the spirit
of a Buckeye by relating these experiences with incoming
students as an Orientation Leader.
Megan Conroy is a biomedical sciences
major from Gaithersburg, Maryland. She
worked diligently in the research laboratory
in the Center for Microbial Interface
Biology and in internships at Ohio State
and the National Institutes of Health. She
promotes the welfare and traditions of the
university through her involvement with
Ohio Staters, Inc. and by volunteering with Phi Sigma
Pi, an honors service fraternity. Her leadership ability
is exemplified in these organizations by serving as
president of Phi Sigma Pi and recording secretary for
Ohio Staters, Inc.
Gregory Ebersole is a material science and engineering
major from Strongsville, Ohio. Greg served as a
teaching assistant for the Fundamentals of Engineering

Honors Program during his sophomore year.
As an Orientation Leader and University Host,
he has assisted the transition of first-year students.
In the Greek community, Greg serves as
historian for the Ohio State chapter of Phi
Gamma Delta fraternity, pursuing the five values
of friendship, knowledge, service, morality, and excellence.
Andrew Eggerding is a strategic communication
major from Cincinnati, Ohio. His passion
and enthusiasm for the student experience has
been demonstrated as a Resident Advisor in
Stradley Hall. Serving as an Orientation
Leader and a Student Orientation Coordinator,
Andrew has welcomed and supported a new
generation of Buckeyes. He represents student organizations
on the Ohio Union Council and serves as an intern in marketing
and Greek life at The Ohio Union. Andrew served as
secretary for Ohio Staters, Inc. and is a member of Sigma
Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Adam Helbling is a civil engineering major
and entrepreneurship minor from Stow, Ohio.
Adam has contributed significantly to the community
through his involvement with the
Mount Leadership Society and the Boys and
Girls Club of Columbus. He spent the summer
of 2007 teaching children to water ski and
wakeboard, and he has worked on campus at the Student
Wellness Center. As the captain of the Water Ski Team at
Ohio State, Adam has made great strides in improving the
organization and secured funding to purchase new equipment
for the team.
Timothy Lamb is an agricultural education
major from Cable, Ohio. Tim has been an integral
part of the College of Food, Agricultural,
and Environmental Sciences, as a CFAES ambassador
and the co-chairman of the 2008 college
recognition banquet, one of the largest
student-run college events. Tim served as
chancellor of the agricultural honorary Alpha Zeta Partners.
He has served as vice president of communication for Alpha
Tau Zeta fraternity and now serves as vice president of recruitment
and retention.
Michelle Millar is an accounting and international
business major in the Fisher College of
Business. She has reached the corners of the
globe through her study abroad experiences in
Uganda, Egypt, Brazil, and Panama. Michelle
advises her peers as a career coach in her college’s
Career Services Office. She has worked
diligently to provide opportunities to all students, especially
African Americans, and successfully helped reestablish the
Afrikan Student Union and serves as president. She also cochaired
the first Annual Big 10 Conference on Black Student
Leadership.
Kelly Mirgon is from Zanesville, Ohio, and is
pursuing a degree in marketing. Kelly participated
in MTV’s Quad Squad, in which her
group developed the winning marketing plan
for Ford Motor Company’s new Ford Focus
which landed her an internship with Ford this
summer. She participated in the First-Year
Leadership Collaborative as a freshman. Her passion for this
program encouraged her to give back and serve as a facilitator
as junior. A member of the Student-Alumni Council, she
currently holds the position of vice president of communications.
Kelly was also a member of Mirrors and Chimes
Class Honoraries.
Sean Mittelman is a mathematics major and
health and wellness minor from Dublin, Ohio.
As vice president of member development for
Sigma Phi Epsilon he ran a personal and professional
development program called
“Balanced Men,” and his chapter won the
award for the top member-development program
in Ohio. He continues to serve the fraternity as its current
president. Deeply invested in Buckeyethon, first as a
morale captain and then as a co-director, Sean helped double
the number of dancers in one year. His volunteer and academic
pursuits keep him focused on his lifelong mission of
teaching.
Robert Nicholson is an international business
major and English minor from Warren, Ohio.
He currently serves as the senior vice president
for the Business Builders Club in which he
helps prepare students for participation in the
Business Plan Competition. Rob has been a
two-year participant in the Dean’s Leadership Conference at
the Fisher College of Business. One of Rob’s most notable
accomplishments has been the creation of SMILE, a nonprofit
organization that helps reduce the burden of home and
auto expenses for single parents in the Columbus community,
for which he also received the Deloitte Entrepreneur of
the Year Award.
Teresa Pratt is a linguistics and Spanish double
major from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is actively
engaged in linguistics research and
served as a John Glenn Fellow in Washington,
D.C. where she interned at the Center for Applied
Linguistics. She served consecutive terms
as the program coordinator for recruitment within the Student-Alumni
Council and implemented a new program focusing
on access to higher education among disadvantaged
students in the city of Columbus.
Brandon Price is from Canton, Ohio and working towards a
dual degree in biology and chemistry focused
on medical school while devoting his time to
volunteering in local hospitals. Over the past
two years, Brandon has been an integral member
of the Association of Ohio State Class Honoraries
and currently serves as its president. He
devotes countless hours to running and training
and has completed several marathons and hopes to compete
in the Iron Man competition someday. He helped welcome
students back to campus as the Student Alumni Council program
coordinator for Welcome Week.
Laura Rizzo is a strategic communication major from Lebanon,
Ohio. Laura worked to better the student experience as
member of the Undergraduate Student Government, serving
as press secretary. As president of her sorority, Chi Omega,
she made strides in their scholarship plan, planned philanthropy
events, and served as a counselor on a day-to-day
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asis for her sisters. Her internships with
Smith Barney Financial Advisors and Sports
Illustrated Campus Consulting, she has challenged
herself professionally. This past summer,
Laura forged relationships with first-year
students as an Orientation Leader.
Andrew Samuels is a mechanical engineering
major from Blue Ash, Ohio. As a university
and honors ambassador and a member of
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Andrew found
his niche on campus. As the vice president of
finance for his fraternity, he managed the quarterly
budget with creativity and enthusiasm. A
member of Bucket and Dipper Junior Class Honorary, Andrew
was co-chair for the Illibuck exchange between Ohio
State and the University of Illinois, bringing the tradition to
a new level by introducing a new Illibuck turtle and increasing
publicity through YouTube videos and TV appearances.
Nellie Smith is an English and theatre double
major at The Ohio State University at Lima.
Nelle is involved in a mentorship program
through the Health Learning Center where she
tutors students, helps them become better writers.
She is involved in Ohio State Lima’s Chorus
and serves as editor to several campus and
local publications. She has vast travel experience, having
studied abroad in Canada, England, and the Netherlands, In
2006, Nellie was designated the Outstanding Student in Geography
and in Theatre and English in 2007.
Mark Torrez is a strategic communication
major and sociology minor from Toledo, Ohio.
As a first- and second-year student, he served
as the president of the university’s Residence
Hall Advisory Council where he helped lead
the residence hall experience for 9,000 undergraduate
students and assisted in managing an
annual budget of $100,000. Recently, Mark was highly involved
with Ohio State’s Orientation program, serving as a
student orientation coordinator. He is an active member of
Ohio Staters, Inc., served as a trip leader for the Alternative
Breaks program, and is a Humanities Scholar.
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Debra J. Van Camp is a food science and nutrition
and agribusiness and applied economics
double major from Lancaster, Ohio. As the
student assistant to the Economic Access Initiative,
she established a student advisory board
and organized data on first-generation faculty
and staff. She founded Students for Equal Access,
an organization promoting opportunities in higher education
to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Deb
now serves as the undergraduate student representative on
the university’s Board of Trustees, contributing a student
perspective to the strategic planning of the university.
Katie Whipkey is a psychology major with
minors in Spanish and dance from Mineral
Ridge, Ohio. Recipient of the Provost and
Beanie Drake Student Leader Scholarhips,
Katie is accomplished both inside and outside
of the classroom. Katie currently serves as
president of Ohio Staters, Inc., working to better
the Ohio State community. She has been a role model to
prospective first-year students as a telecounselor and Orientation
Leader. She also dedicates herself to others through
volunteering on service projects and as an Alternative Break
trip leader.
Terrance Wooten is a political science major
and African American Studies minor from
Webster Springs, West Virginia. Terrance is
a coordinator for OSU Kid Corps and volunteers
at the South High Children’s Hospital.
He is involved in the Undergraduate Black
Law Student Association and the Ohio State
chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. A member
of the Politics, Society, and Law Scholars, he is a mentor to
first-year students. Terrance was recently selected as one of
ten students to serve as a strategic research intern for the
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
in New York City.
Kathryn Zatroch is an animal sciences major and business
and international studies minor from Pepper Pike, Ohio.
Katie challenged herself with valuable professional experi-
ences as an intern with the Village Veterinary
Clinic and the New Vocations Racehorse
Adoption Facility. She has expanded her
global horizons by studying abroad in England,
Greece, and Egypt. An honors ambassador,
Katie has been instrumental in giving tours,
serving on panels, and volunteering at various recruitment
events. She is also extremely active in the Student-Alumni
Council.
Jillian Zientek is a zoology major from
Toledo, Ohio. Jillian has volunteered and
worked in veterinary hospitals across the state,
including Ohio State’s Veterinary Teaching
Hospital in the oncology department, blood
bank and greyhound medicine program, and at
the Capital Area Humane Society, as well as animal care
organizations in Dublin and Toledo. She currently serves as
treasurer and tour guide coordinator for the OSU Pre-
Veterinary Medical Association. Jillian served as the Beat
Michigan Week program coordinator for the Student-
Alumni Council and was a member of Mirrors and Chimes
Class Honoraries.
HONORARY MEMBERS
Felix Alonso is a 1995 graduate of The Ohio
State University and is currently the associate
director of the Multicultural Center. Throughout
his life, Felix has displayed exceptional
loyalty and service to Ohio State. As a student,
Felix served two terms as chapter president
for Delta Chi fraternity and was a member
of the Undergraduate Student Government and Men’s
Glee Club. After earning his master’s degree from the University
of Vermont, he returned to his alma mater in 2000.
Working as director of student programs for the OSU
Alumni Association, Felix revived campus traditions such as
May Week and Homecoming Court, and advised the Student-Alumni
Council, shaping it into one of the preeminent
advancement organizations nationwide. Felix has also
served as advisor for Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Alpha Psi

Lambda fraternity, and Chimes Junior Class Honorary. In
2006, Felix was recognized by Ohio State students as an
Outstanding Student Organization Advisor. In his current
position at the Multicultural Center, Felix is leading the implementation
of a new strategic plan, all while continuing to
stay connected to undergraduate students as an advisor, mentor,
and friend.
Dr. Jacqueline Jones Royster is the executive
dean of the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences.
A graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in
English, she continued her education and
earned a master’s and doctoral degrees in English
from the University of Michigan. She
came to Ohio State as an associate professor of
English in 1991, and she has served as executive dean since
2005. A professor of English in rhetoric and composition,
Dr. Royster has been published in countless scholarly books
and journals and has received awards for her academic contributions
and service, including the designation of “Dr.
Jackie Royster day” in Chillicothe, Ohio, on December 6,
2003. As executive dean, she oversees the students from
more than 70 major programs spanning five colleges and 41
academic departments. She fosters interdisciplinary initiatives
such as the Institute on Women, Gender, and Public
Policy, and the Africa Network that brings together faculty,
staff, graduate, and undergraduate students from across the
university. She is admired by the Ohio State community for
her devotion to undergraduate students while balancing the
responsibilities of leading such a large federation of colleges.
David Tomasko is a distinguished teacher,
advisor, and administrator from the Department
of Chemical Engineering. A graduate of the
University of Tulsa, he earned his Ph.D. from
the University of Illinois and began teaching at
Ohio State in 1993. Currently, he is the deputy
director of the Center for Affordable Nanoengineering of
Polymeric Biomedical Devices and director of the Honors
Collegium. Dr. Tomasko has earned numerous research
awards from the College of Engineering, and he holds a patent
for polymer nanocomposite foams. Outside of the research
laboratory, Dr. Tomasko has been recognized for his
excellence in teaching and education by multiple departmen-
tal, college, and university awards including the 2002
Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. Additionally, he
is active in community outreach through his efforts developing
a program for Ohio State graduate students to visit K-12
Columbus public schools, creating nanotechnology experiences
for first year undergraduates, and fostering an environment
for some of Ohio State’s most exceptional students
through the Honors
Collegium. His
candor, wit, and
ambiability set
him apart as a
teacher and
advisor.
Jillian Zientek, SPHINX 102
Shortly after Linking Day this past May, the 102 nd Class of Sphinx discussed a
long list of things to do together in the coming year. As soon as we were together
after linking day and formal initiation, we had developed an extensive to-do
list. True to our nature as student leaders we decided to bring a bit more articulation
and organization to the matter, and thus the “102-Do List” was born.
We systematically narrowed down everyone’s ideas. Originally, we generated a list
of 24 items, one for each member, but we agreed to a list of 26, with the goal of
completing 24 of those by spring commencement. Seniors in and out of Sphinx
have such lists of their own, but what sets the 102-Do List apart is we intend to
complete these tasks as a group, with more than half of the members present in
order to consider it completed.
Most of the items on our list are Ohio State traditions like jumping into Mirror
Lake, camping out on the Oval, sleeping over with President Gee, and kissing the
Moos at Mama’s Pasta and Brew. Experiencing the city of Columbus also found a
place on our list including attending Gallery Hop in the Short North and cheering
on the Columbus Crew and Clippers. The list is focused on bringing our class of
Sphinx together while having fun. An all-night lock-in, a canoeing or whitewater
rafting trip, playing Laser Tag, and writing a round-robin story are in the plans for
this year.
With several items crossed off, we are looking forward to completing the remainder
of the list together.
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What we did on our summer advance
Teresa Pratt
The last weekend in August saw
the first Sphinx 102 advance.
About 15 links were able to
attend the weekend getaway to a
campsite on the Clarion River in
Pennsylvania. Adam Helbling graciously
offered to share his family
friend's riverside getaway with us,
and we spent the weekend lounging
by the dock, riding in Adam's boat
(or tubing behind it), jumping off of
bridges, and engaging in general
merry-making.
Mr. and Mrs. Helbling, Adam’s
parents, cooked delicious breakfasts and dinners for all
of us over the weekend. A few of us even learned to
make a campfire treat - banana boats. These rustic
delicacies are constructed by filling a half-emptied
banana with marshmallow, peanut butter, and chocolate.
To cook, seal it back up in tin foil and heat over
the fire. This was an outstanding addition to our latenight
campfire discussions.
As for nighttime fun, we spent time at the dock and
were entertained by Ohio ghost stories, courtesy of
Andrew Samuels and Rob Nicholson. The tale of Dr.
Snook and his disastrous affair with a student was by far the most memorable of the ghost stories,
particularly because it happened right on Ohio State's campus.
Summer advance was a good time had by all; those who couldn't attend were sorely missed,
but luckily this year will see more social opportunities and more advances to look forward to!
Buckeyes vs. Spartans:
Fall Advance at Michigan State
Vicki Bouttavong
After months of Holiday Inn phone calls and hitting the
“Reply All” button in e-mails, Fall Advance to Michigan
State University had finally arrived.
Many members of 102 began their trip to Lansing, Michigan
in the afternoon, arrived safely and spent the night in
the hotel getting to know each other, playing games and
activities. Four members of the class, Kyle Brewer, Sean
Mittleman, Terrence Wooten, and myself, had obligations
Friday evening and left late that night. How late we
would leave was the question.
The plan was to leave after an Ohio Union Activities
Board event around 10 p.m. However, the adventure was
delayed until 2 a.m. Sean Mittelman attended an event
with his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and it lasted much
later than originally expected. I prepared myself for the
late-night trip with a nap and a Starbucks cappuccino.
Finally on the road, Kyle Brewer and I bonded during the
long drive; before the trip, we didn’t know much about
each other. The drive went almost without a hitch, and
we arrived at the hotel at 6 a.m., only to be woken up two
hours later by a morning brigade of SPHINX links volunteering
for Make a Difference Day (MADD), where Ohio
State students volunteered in Lansing, Mich. with students
from Michigan State. As we all dressed and got
ready to leave yet again, Kyle Brewer didn’t even bat an
eye. An earthquake would not have woken him up!

We met other volunteers on Michigan
State’s campus and left on a trip to a
swampland where we built a boardwalk
along the water in a nature preserve.
After bending many nails,
bruising thumbs, and muddy shoes
we successfully built eight to ten
sturdy boardwalks. A learning experience
for some, everyone enjoyed
the physical labor and the beauty of
the Michigan landscape around us.
Not everyone volunteered, and the others got a few more hours of sleep, went to
lunch, and explored Michigan State’s campus. It was a beautiful day. Perfect
weather for a hooded sweatshirt and a football jersey, perfect for exploring, and
perfect for football. After gathering for lunch, we headed to Spartan Stadium, but
not before taking the perfect photo with the Sparty statue.
The game went exceptionally well, with a Buckeye victory of 44-7! The O-H-I-O
chant even made its way around Michigan State’s stadium, creating an unreal experience!
After grabbing dinner, we spent some time relaxing at the hotel, but the long day
had many of us exhausted. A rented video camera from The Ohio Union collected
some of the festivities and personal
stories and experiences of our fellow
links.
In the morning, about 12 links drove to
Ann Arbor to have lunch with a
SPHINX alum, who was unable to join
us. As luck would have it, we still had a
great time at Zingerman’s, a very popular
food spot, and exploring downtown
Ann Arbor. I hate to say it, but it is actually
a pretty neat place!
Whether over the summer break or during the academic quarter,
Sphinx links can be found in many corners of the world. From the
beautiful landscape of “that state up north” to the harbour of Hong
Kong, links are gaining valuable experiences through internships
and study abroad opportunities.
This past summer and autumn quarter, links from the 102nd class
documented their experiences and the lessons they learned.
The Awakening
Barbara Barash
Coming from Lviv, Ukraine when I was eight years old, I thought I
knew all there was to know about poverty and unhealthy conditions,
but when I arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica and worked in a
children's clinic in the town named Alajuelita, I realized I knew
very little about these issues.
As seven Ohio State University students volunteering
with the Foundation for International Medical Relief of
Children, we helped doctors treat patients and run the
clinic. For one week, starting on Sept. 8 and ending on
Sept. 12, we worked from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. or until we
ran out of supply, which was about 15 patients.
Recording information like height, weight, and temperature
was among our daily tasks in addition to stocking medicine,
filling prescriptions, and explaining how to take the medicine.
This was great practice for our Spanish.
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We shadowed a doctor, listened to his questions as he
posed them to the patients and explained what he did
as he went along. We spent afternoons planning skits
and presentations to give to children in the village
soup kitchen on proper healthcare management, how
to have fun being healthy, and how to stay safe. Some
afternoons we went to the soup kitchen, played with
the children and taught them about health.
I learned more than I could ever learn by simply reading
books or seeing documentaries. I learned that children
have fun no matter what, that patients are people,
that healthcare really is a problem worldwide, and
that patients around the world are more grateful for
the minimal care they receive than those in the United
States.
Of course, no trip could be complete without seeing
the country and having fun. Our group was able to
arrive early and enjoy the area and sightsee. We visited
a nearby beach, the most beautiful area I have
ever seen in my life. We stayed on a cliff-side resort
with a view of the clear-blue water. Iguanas walk
around everywhere like they own the world and exotic
flowers bloom around you creating an unreal atmosphere.
Monkeys often jump down to visit, or steal
your food. We interacted with local people at the
beach, visited some restaurants, and danced our hearts
out to Spanish and American music in clubs. I experienced
life to its fullest.
Our host families in Santa Ana were very accommodating
and thoughtful. They taught me a lot about the
culture and economics and took me in like I was just
another member of their family. I spent time with
them in the mall, ate amazing home-cooked meals
and learned to live like a Costa Rican. When my
plane was cancelled due to Hurricane Ike for three
days, the family dropped me off and picked me up
from the airport every day because they felt they were
responsible for me and took the time to make sure I
was safe.
My experience was entirely fulfilling. It is a place and
time that I will always cherish in my heart and my
memories. I spent more time finding out about the
world in the 13 days I was there than I would have
ever done by staying close to home. My life has forever
been changed and I look forward to the next opportunity
to visit the friends I made and make new
memories.
I see London, I see… Hong Kong!
Michelle “Mickey” Millar
During the summer I interned with a public accounting
firm, KPMG. I was selected for their Global Internship
Program and I spent half of my internship in
Atlanta, Ga. and the other half in London. Not only
was it a great learning experience but I also had a lot
of fun. For a month I lived in a flat in central London
with two other interns from the United States and
used the Underground to commute either to the office
or to clients. During my free time I went sightseeing
and spent time the interns from the United Kingdom. I
learned a lot about international accounting standards
in comparison to those in the U.S.
Currently, I am spending autumn quarter at The Hong
Kong University of Science & Technology. This university
is an exchange partner with Ohio State's Fisher
College if Business. I have been here since the very
end of August and will stay until right before Christmas.
I am taking business related courses that count
towards my major. I have been having a really awesome
time. The students here are very friendly and
Hong Kong is a very exciting city. Although I don't
know much Cantonese, I still get by because my
classes are in English and all the students speak it.
It's great living in such a different place with a different
culture. I've gotten to know several local students
as well as exchange students from all over the world.
My roommate for example is from Paris, France. I've
also taken advantage of the opportunity to get involved
with activities I normally do not at Ohio State.

I am now a member of the HKUST Taekwondo
club!
I have fit in a few trips to surrounding countries,
having been to the Philippines and I just returned
from Tokyo. Next, I plan on traveling to mainland
China. I am having a really amazing time, but I can't
wait to get back to Ohio State and all of the fun
Sphinx activities I've been missing out on.
My exotic study abroad experience
Kelly Mirgon
Okay, maybe I didn’t do a study abroad in some far
away country. However, the location I did reside in
all summer was as close to a foreign place as an
Ohioan can get without going outside the country. It
is so foreign that I can’t even utter its name. Yes, I
dare say that I stayed in “that state up north” for a
whole summer, interning at Ford Motor Company in
Dearborn, Michigan. If I was going to be in Michigan
I thought I might as well be patriotic and work
for an American car company.
I was assigned to the Global Headquarters in the
Chief Marketing Office and was very fortunate to be
placed in the strategy department. I worked on a rebranding
project of Ford, finding what Ford meant
not only to its customers, but to its employees as
well. I sat in on many interesting meetings and had
some very knowledgeable mentors on my team to
teach me everything I needed to know about marketing
and the auto industry. My final presentation was
a pitch to the Chief Marketing Office on how I
thought they should implement their findings internally.
I could not have asked for a better internship! On top
of learning about marketing and working with some
great people I also obtained an inside look on future
models of Ford vehicles and shadowed other Ford
departments. I realize now how valuable an internship
at such a large company can be because I was
able to learn not only about marketing, but also the
various areas of a company and how they are dependent
on each other to maintain and sustain a
highly functioning business.
My internship also made me realize how proud I am
to be a Buckeye. I met a multitude of Buckeyes
while living in Michigan and every single one of
them proudly wear a Block O on their chest, even in
a sea of maize and blue. If that doesn’t say true
Buckeye fan, I don’t know what does.
Summer in DC
Terrance Wooten
I gained a lot from my experience at The American
Federation of State County and Municipal Employees
and learned to work in a professional atmos-
phere. I learned to successfully communicate with
coworkers and members of administration and to ask
for help even when it might make me look completely
inept or unknowledgeable. Most importantly,
I learned a lot about myself. I know my limits,
my strengths, and what I can improve upon.
The icing on the cake? I had the opportunity to hang
out with a fellow link while in Washington: Debra
Van Camp. She is like my other half – the skinnier,
female, and Caucasian version, that is. Due to our
schedules, we didn’t get to hang out all the time, but
in the moments when we did, I took a lot away from
them. Being able to share my experience with someone
in Sphinx really helped anchor me. One can
only read through so many union contracts, court
dockets, IRS Form 990s, and dealing with the ridiculous
heat without going absolutely insane. Deb was
definitely a soothing breath of reality. She helped
bring Ohio State to D.C. with me, and for that we
will forever have a firm friendship, just as Carmen
Ohio describes.
8

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The 101 st Class of SPHINX was dedicated to scholarship and service at The
Ohio State University. Their year together has come and gone, but the impact
they made and the friendships they fostered make their links ever
stronger. As the links of 101 move on, they continue to seek out opportunities
in scholarship and service in their current and future endeavors.
Paul Barash graduated in June with a degree in marketing and has relocated
to Chicago, Il. He now works for Intersport, a sports-marketing company.
Robbie Beaulieu graduated in June with a degree in comparative studies.
He lives in Murcia, Spain as a Fulbright Scholar and is conducting research
in the area of soil quality and biocontrol development at CEBAS-CSIC, a
national Spanish research center. Robbie continues to work towards attending
medical school.
Leah Bunck graduated in June with a degree in social work. Leah is now
working for Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience at Ohio
State as an admissions counselor.
Anjali Chavan graduated with a degree in criminology and political science
in June. Anjali is now attending Georgetown Law School at Georgetown
University.
Joseph Clark, III graduated with a degree in psychology in June and is
now in pursuit of a law degree from the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio
State University.
Mary Curphey graduated in June with a degree in marketing. She has relocated
to Cincinnati, Oh., and works for the Nielsen Company, a global
information and media company and is one of the world's leading suppliers
of marketing information.

Daphne Everhart graduated in June with a degree in political science. She is
now attending graduate school at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., seeking
a Masters in College Student Affairs Administration and working with the
student programming board.
James Fondriest graduated in June with a degree in biology. He is now pursuing
his law degree from the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University.
Michael Jaung graduated with a degree in international studies and microbiology
in June and has since relocated to Boston, Mass. Now a first year at Harvard
Medical School, Michael is pursuing degrees in medicine and public health and
hopes to see many Links in town.
James Knight will graduate in June 2009 with a degree in chemical engineering.
After June, James will continue his studies and pursue a Ph.D.
Katie Krajny graduated in June with a degree in sociology. She is now in her
first year in graduate school at The Ohio State University seeking a Masters in
Higher Education and Student Affairs. As a Graduate Administrative Associate
at the Ohio Union, Katie works in marketing, development, and Student Life orientation.
Jake McKim graduated in June with a degree in economics. He has relocated to
San Francisco, Ca. and now works for Google. Jake is enjoying sunny California
and is thinking of writing a novel, but hasn’t forgotten his family and his Buckeye
pride.
Erin Meyer is continuing her undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering with
plans to graduate in the spring. After which, she is crossing her fingers for a position
in construction management.
Ben Pulley graduated with a degree in biology in June and is now attending
medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina. Ben and his fiancé, Jessica Chinn, are looking forward to their
wedding in July 2009.
Michael Repasky graduated with a degree in operations management in June.
He now works for Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity as a regional director helping
young men live their best lives by pursuing a sound mind in a sound body with a
healthy spirit, and cultivating a desire to constantly improve.
Luis Sanchez graduated with a degree in criminology and sociology in June.
Luis is now attending graduate school at Penn State University seeking a dual
Ph.D. in sociology and demography. He is also conducting research in the areas
of immigration, education, and multi-group segregation in U.S. metropolitan regions.
Nathaniel Sheppard is currently finishing his studies and will graduate in June
with an engineering degree with minors in business and entrepreneurship. He has
accepted a position at Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity headquarters in Indianapolis,
In., and is looking forward to this position.
Annie Specht will graduate in June 2009 with a degree in agricultural communication
and English.
Marie Strouse graduated with a degree in actuarial science in June. She has relocated
to Caribou, Maine where she works as a “Leader in Motion” within the Defense
Finance & Accounting Service. She recently ran a full marathon in Boston,
Ma., and is looking forward to the cold, winter sports in Northern Maine. Marie
has recently made great progress in establishing Maine’s first Ohio State Alumni
Club.
Matt Van Jura graduated in June with a degree in history and political science.
Now attending the University of Vermont, Matt is seeking a Masters in Higher
Education and Student Affairs and works as an Assistant University Residence
director.
For more information about The Link,
Visit sphinx.org.ohio-state.edu
or contact Andrew Eggerding, The Link editor
eggerding.4@osu.edu
10