Media Alert
SPELMAN COLLEGE 2010 VALEDICTORIAN TO SPEND YEAR AS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR IN INDIA
ATLANTA (May 5, 2010)
Ariel Eckblad, Spelman College’s 2010 valedictorian is working on her speech, preparing for family, and packing up as she and more than 560 fellow graduates prepare for Spelman College’s 123rd Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 16, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center at 3 p.m.
On Friday May 14, Eckblad will address the class of 2010 for Class Day Convocation in Sisters Chapel. Originally from Fairfield, CA, and a graduate of Milestones High School, Eckblad recalls that her parents emphasized doing well in school and that she understood this at an early age. “It started in the 4th grade for me when I could recognize good grades and knew what getting an A meant.” From that point on, Eckblad wanted to continue down this path of excellence.
As noted in the College’s tagline, to attend Spelman is to make “a choice to change the world.” So how does Eckblad plan to change the world? This summer, she will travel to India as a Fulbright Scholar researching women in government. Her plan is to study how and why women maneuver through the political system. Upon her return, Eckblad will attend Harvard Law School with career plans to work for the federal legislative branch of the government.
Completing a double major in political science and comparative studies, Eckblad’s academic success speaks for itself with a 3.98 GPA. She has also had the opportunity to work with Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and participated in Yale Law School’s Arthur Liman Public Interest Program her junior year. This program supports the work of law students, law school graduates, and students from six universities, all of whom work to respond to inequality and to improve access to justice.
Accepted to Yale, Harvard, Georgetown, and Columbia, Eckblad made the choice to attend Spelman because she saw it as a place where she could excel intellectually and personally. Her mother was also instrumental her final decision. “She wanted me to find a space where I could grow academically, socially, and spiritually,” explained Eckblad “At first it was a struggle to make the decision but it was important to her that I attend Spelman.”
Eckblad also speaks highly of the sisterhood, faculty support, mutual respect among students, and the emphasis to support one another was important to her success while in college. “Before attending Spelman, I had a myopic point of view. However, Spelman has taught me how to think freely and focus holistically on developing as a woman.”
Reflecting on her time at Spelman Eckblad states, “The experience of attending Spelman is unmatched and comparable to no other. It has been everything and more. The faculty, my friends, and all the relationships that I have developed were instrumental in my success.”
Susan E. Rice, Ph. D., United States Ambassador to the United Nations and a member of President Obama’s Cabinet, will serve as the keynote speaker and receive an honorary degree.
In addition to Ambassador Rice, Marian Wright Edelman, C’60, a graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law School, will also receive an honorary degree. Mrs. Edelman is a former chair of the board of trustees of Spelman College, and founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund. Reverend Michael Beckwith, will serve as the Baccalaureate speaker on Saturday, May 15.
For more information about Commencement visit http://www.spelman.edu/commencement.
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Spelman College:
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a prestigious, highly selective, liberal arts college that prepares women to change the world. Located in Atlanta, Ga., this historically black college boasts a 79 percent graduation rate, and outstanding alumnae such as Children's Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; former U.S. Foreign Service Director General Ruth Davis, authors Tina McElroy Ansa and Pearl Cleage; and actress LaTanya Richardson. More than 83 percent of the full-time faculty members have Ph.D.s or other terminal degrees, and the average faculty to student ratio is 12:1. More than 2,100 students attend Spelman. For more
information, visit: www.spelman.edu.
