In the Spotlight

Abraham Awolich

It would be easy to forgive Abraham Awolich if he chose not to look back. For Awolich and his fellow “Lost Boys,” memories of home are rooted in genocide, war, displacement, a youth and young manhood spent on the run and in refugee camps. But the Sudanese native, now an American citizen, says turning his back on his past is not in him, nor in his culture.

“The structure of our society makes it very hard for someone to do that — for someone to say, ‘I just have to forget.’ We are very tied to the families,” Awolich says. “An individual does not see himself as just an individual, he sees himself as part of the larger group.”

The strength of that ethic has motivated a circle of Sudanese now living in the United States to join with friends in creating the New Sudan Education Initiative. The fledgling effort is dedicated to building 20 schools for secondary education by 2015 as southern Sudan re-emerges following the comprehensive peace agreement of 2005.

more >>

Young Alumni Q&A

Daniel Oppenheimer '06
Forging His Own Path

What made you decide to choose UVM?

I was attracted to UVM for many reasons. Biology has always piqued my interest, with hypothesis testing and systematic approaches to finding answers. The biology department at UVM has a faculty of well-known and respected researchers. Additionally, most Vermonters and I hold great concern for the environment and a healthy lifestyle. The climate and topography are other attractive aspects of attending school at UVM. Breathtaking landscapes of the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain provide easily accessible opportunities for hiking, camping and skiing. Lastly, UVM is my parents' alma mater. They met at the University of Vermont thirty-four years ago in the same lecture hall that housed my introductory chemistry course. All of these reasons were influential in my decision to matriculate to the University of Vermont.

more >>

Matt Tornabene '02
The Entrepreneurial Spirit

What made you decide to choose UVM?

I went to a small Southern boarding school that was very conservative. Most of the students at Woodberry Forest School go onto Ivy League schools, to University of Virginia or University of North Carolina. I wanted something different. I love the mountains, the scenery. I thought it was a good school and an opportunity to take myself out of the friendly confines of Southern society and experience something new.

more >>