Age: 19
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia
Major: Media Arts and Design
Relationship Status: Single
What are your activities/What are you interested in?:
I’m a huge fan of photography, playing tennis, longboarding, volunteering, swimming, traveling, listening to music, etc.
(Cory has been offered a photography show in Taylor Down Under for the Fall of 2011! Be on the lookout for his work!)
Tell us about places you have been:
Well, I have been to places such as Kenya (3 times),
Peru, the United Kingdom (3 times), the Netherlands, and El Salvador.
Any special stories from your trips?:
Just last summer, when I went to Western Kenya,
I had the chance to visit a center for AIDs testing.
What made the experience really unique was that
the center specialized in testing for people who were deaf.
The people who worked there were also deaf, so
getting a tour around this center was really i
nteresting because no one could talk to me.
Fortunately, they had a translator and I was able to hear about all the amazing things they did at the testing center. Also, at the end of the tour, the staff asked me to plant to Mango tree at the center in order to show their appreciation for my visit.
With help from the staff, I planted the tree and
they named the tree after me.
Why did you choose JMU?: One of the main reasons I chose JMU was because of the amazing atmosphere. When I first stepped foot onto the beautiful campus, I knew immediately that this was the university for me. No matter what day it is, people here are just so positive and always carry a huge smile on their face. I haven’t seen anything like that at other colleges I’ve been to. And the size of the university is perfect. While it’s big enough to have the resources of a large university, you still see familiar faces around campus on a daily basis. Instead of feeling like a number, you are actually treated as a person on this campus.
What do you do around Campus?: I’m involved in multiple organizations around campus. One organization I’m involved in is Intervarsity, which is a Christian group on campus. I’m also a staff photographer for the Breeze, JMU’s newspaper, and that has been a great experience so far. This summer, I’m going to be working for JMU Orientation as an Orientation Peer Advisor (OPA) and help first-years with their transition into college.
What is your dream job?: My dream job would be to work as the head of a Humanitarian Organization, such as UNICEF, Red Cross, etc. I have always loved helping others and volunteering abroad and within the local community, so having a job that incorporates that aspect would be so rewarding and amazing.
What is your ideal date?: My ideal date would be a nice picnic on a beach. I’m someone that likes the simpler things, so I would prefer somewhere like the beach over a fancy 5-star restaurant any day.
3 Words That Best Describe You: Laidback, Optimistic, Determined
Photo Credit: Cory D’Orazio