Hamilton College
Skip Main Navigation
Skip Section Navigation Bonner Leaders
Bonner Leaders Program History of the Bonner Program Current Bonner Leaders Bonner Web Based Reporting System Community Partners Bonner Leaders Application
Levitt Center

Current Bonner Leader Student Profiles


Henry Edelson '12
Hometown: Manhattan, NY
Major: Economics

I work for the Advantage After-School Program at Donovan Middle School with Laura Gilson.  I have a wide range of responsibilities from tutoring the students to alleviating conflict.  One of the highlights of the year was creating and participating in a 32 player Connect-4 Tournament.  Next year, we plan on implementing an Outdoors Program where we teach the children basic wilderness survival skills and, hopefully, take them on a camping trip to the Adirondack Mountains.
  

 

Laura Gilson '12
Hometown: Sparta, NJ
Proposed Major: Psychology
Proposed Minor: English

This past year I volunteered at Donovan Middle School with the Advantage After-School Program. I worked as both a mentor and tutor. Since Henry and I really wanted to get to know the kids we were working with better, we became involved in many extracurricular interests with them such as dodge ball and connect four. Having gained a better understanding of the program, we hope to implement our own after-school program, which will focus on outdoor exploration.

Outside of the Bonner Leader Program, I tutor third grade students who need help in math and reading, play intramural lacrosse and am an active member of student assembly.

I enjoy working with children. It is very rewarding to see even the slight positive differences that you can cause from volunteering. Working at Donovan Middle School has not only helped me gain a broader understanding about cultural/economic differences, but has also shown me the importance of children having positive role models. I hope to one day combine my interests of psychology and working with children for a career.

I also love to play lacrosse, volleyball, and run. 



Yoko O'Hara '12
Hometown: Ojai, CA
Proposed Major: Undecided
Proposed Minor: Undecided 
 
My current site is the Underground Café.  I offer homework assistance to Proctor High School students and Japanese and Origami lessons to those interested.  I also help out at teen events, such as this semester's Talent Show.
 
Outside of the Bonner Leader Program, I am active in the Asian Cultural Society and tutoring Japanese students.
 
I enjoy trying and learning new things. I have taught English to students in Japan which was a very new experience for me and I learned about many differences between the culture there and in America. Then, I decided to teach basic Japanese here which also helped me recognize that teaching someone something takes patience. I do not know what I want to do in the future, but I hope that I will be able to keep coming across unique opportunities.
 
I also enjoy playing squash, skiing, drawing, and traveling.

 

 

Caroline Pantazis '12
Hometown: Westfield, NJ
Proposed Major: Neuroscience
Proposed Minor: French

I work for the Y-Girls Program at the local YWCA.  My role at the organization is to create a monthly newsletter that informs parents and the community about the program's recent activities.  The newsletter, which contains among other items, the girls' GPAs and pictures from recent field trips, has been used to secure grants.

My commitment to community service goes beyond the Bonner Leader Program.  I am a Projects Manager on the Havoc E-Board, in charge of maintaining HAVOC volunteer sites.  I am also dues-paying member of the Gamma Xi Sorority.

 

I really enjoy working with children because of their insightfulness and eagerness; I always learn something when I work with them.  From my time working in impoverished cities such as Newark, NJ and Utica, NY, I have learned to especially admire underprivileged children.  Their academic perseverance, despite the economic and social hardships they face every day, inspires me to help them succeed.      

 

I also enjoy playing piano in my spare time.




Liam Ronan '12
Hometown: Jenkintown, PA
Proposed Major: Government
 
My current site is Thea Bowman House.  I tutor and interact with mainly younger children, helping them with their homework.  My principal goal is to improve their math and reading skills.

Outside of the Bonner Leader Program, I am active in the Hamilton Investing Club and intramural sports .
 
My passion in life is politics.  I am particularly interested in learning about how government policies affect youth education.  For example, while working in Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones' Office, I observed how the No Child Left Behind Act, contrary to what its title might suggest, left many poor and/or disabled children behind.  I wish to one day be in a position where I help construct pertinent legislation that positively affects constituents, such as the intelligent children at Thea Bowman House.  
  


Stefanie Russell '12
Hometown: Westport, NY
Proposed Major: Biology (Pre-med Track)

I work for the Catholic Charities After-School Program at Kernan Elementary School.  My main responsibility is helping the children with their homework.  I make sure that they understand each concept by having them explain what they just learned.  Finally, by setting a good example and correcting improper speech, I encourage the children to speak with proper grammar and be polite. 




Isabelle Van Hook '11
Hometown: Cambridge, NY
Declared Major: World Politics
Proposed Minor: Economics/History
 
During the summer of 2009, I interned with the Levitt Center, spending some of my time volunteering in the ESOL Classes at the Mohawk Valley Refugee Center. I realized that despite the language barriers, the young adult refugees were just like the young adults at Hamilton. My Bonner Project will work with young adult refugees from Utica by bringing them to Hamilton campus to interact with Hamilton students. I hope that the connections made with first language speakers will provide a higher incentive for the refugees to build their English language skills, as well as help them culturally adapt to the United States. In addition, Hamilton students will be able to make a direct connection with cultures and people from all across the globe right on campus.
  
I think that building connections with people from backgrounds entirely different from yours is an important if not necessary experience in life. I think it is interesting to see what separates us—ideas, practices, or appearance-- but also see that at some basic level, we are the same. I've enjoyed my time at the Adult Learning Center in Utica and hope to recreate those experiences for others here on campus. 

On campus, I'm also involved with Amnesty International and Women's Rugby.


 

Mariam Ballout '10
Hometown: Clifton Park, NY
Major: World Politics
Favorite Quote: "It is not power that corrupts but fear…" — Aung San Suki
 
Outside of the Bonner Leaders Program I am involved in the choir, Student Assembly, Students for Barack Obama, Model EU, Covering lectures for Media Relations, being a tour guide.
 
I am energetic, inquisitive, friendly, and interested in politics and human rights. My favorite book is Anna Karenina, favorite movie is The Shaw shank Redemption and my favorite color is red. I love people, cats, and panda bears.
 
Some day I hope to be fluent in French, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, and Farji. I want to be a foreign war correspondent, journalist, politician, or diplomat.
 
My current service site is at the American Red Cross.  I serve as a liaison between the Red Cross and refugees, informing them about services the Red Cross has to offer, including finding refugees' lost or resettled family members.



Leide Cabral '10

Leide Cabral
Hometown: Boston, MA
Major: Mathematics
Favorite Quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." — Ghandi

Outside of the Bonner Leaders Program I am a Posse Scholar, a member of the Black Student Union, La Vanguardia, the Social Justice Initiative, ACCEPTED, and the Young Peoples Project.
 
About me: I am a charismatic, fun-loving, goal-oriented, and motivated female of color. I love to help others, especially youth in disadvantaged urban schools.
 
I plan to work at a Fortune 500 company in Investment Banking, then retire early and spend the rest of my life helping programs that improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
 
My current service site is at Donovan Middle School. My title is "Program Assistant." But to the students I am more. I am a mentor, friend, and workshop facilitator. Currently I plan and run a workshop for all the girls in the after school program.

Past Bonner Leader Profiles