RELEASED: May 19, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—From law school to medical school, from business to teaching, from the Peace Corps to AmeriCorps—new Centre graduates are headed for a wide variety of careers in every corner of the globe. Here are just a few of the places members of the Centre College Class of 2005 are heading after they walk across the Newlin Hall stage, at the College's Norton Center for the Arts.

Matt Cohen, an international studies major from Ft. Thomas, Ky., recommends studying abroad to future Centre students. After graduate school at the University of Cincinnati studying international development, Cohen plans to go back overseas.

"I'm in the process of applying to the Peace Corps," he says, "and I should be going abroad to work in the field of development planning between my two years at U.C."

Casey Allender, a double major in history and international studies from Nicholasville, Ky., is heading to Birmingham, Ala. after graduation to study law at Samford University.

"Centre gave me the confidence to tackle any task or obstacle no matter how big it may seem in the beginning," Allender says. "It also helped me to give other people more of a chance when they're very different from me."

Louisville native Diana Freeman admits that when she came to Centre she had a narrow view of the world, but after studying abroad three times during her time at Centre, the international studies major has the "confidence to pursue things that I never could have imagined doing before." Freeman will spend the next 27 months in West Africa with the Peace Corps.

Marjorie Pilkinton, a psychobiology major from Shelbyville, Ky., says Centre gave her the boost of confidence that will help her achieve her goals, including medical school.

"Centre provided many opportunities for leadership and campus involvement. Once I had opportunities to be a leader, I began to fully see my potential not only as a student, but as an individual in society. I gained confidence in public speaking, critical thinking and analysis, presentation and other vital areas of the 'real world.' Centre challenged me and gave me opportunities to step outside my comfort zone and push myself to the limit in every aspect of life."

Brittany Blackburn, a religion and history double major from Pikeville, Ky., credits her professors with helping her prepare for law school at the University of Kentucky.

"The community here is truly encouraging and supportive. When I first decided to apply to law school, for example, my professors and advisors were more than willing to guide me through the entire application process."

Terra Caudill, a mathematics major from Sturgis, Ky., plans to teach mathematics on either the high school or elementary school level.

"I've been taught about math and education," she says, "but I've also learned about service, other people, and myself. I realize that I have lots more to learn and Centre has provided me with a solid foundation to continue my lifelong learning process."

Emily Green, an English major from Tullahoma, Tenn., says Centre connections helped her land her dream job right out of school.

"Deb Jones [director of career services at Centre], Helen Emmitt [associate professor of English], and Blaire Glover Jones'03 help me land a job in Lexington doing exactly what I want to do: writing and editing for an environmental law firm."

English major Shavaun Evans, another Louisville native, will begin a two-year stint in the Peace Corps after graduation. "Centre has changed my life because it helped me to recognize what was happening in the world around me," she says. "Centre gave me the opportunity to study in another country and travel outside of the U.S. for the first time in my life."

Sarah Cable, an international studies major from Chattanooga, Tenn., had the opportunity to study abroad three times at Centre. She plans to attend graduate school for international affairs after working in San Jose, Calif., next year with AmeriCorps. "Centre has made me a more confident person," she says. "I'm confident in my abilities, my intelligence, and the talents I have to offer the world."

Government major Laura Coleman from Calhoun, Ky., plans to study communications and public affairs at either American University or Columbia University.

"Centre has made me appreciate challenges and constantly search for them; whether academically or socially, because of the small-campus environment here at Centre I've been able to be involved in a variety of activities and each of them has challenged me along the way. Whether I'm on the softball field or in the classroom, the Centre community has given me the confidence and the competence to graduate without anxiety."

Louisville native Adam Browne, an anthropology/sociology major, is headed to U.S. Army Officer Candidate School after his years at Centre.

"Centre changed my life by providing me with many varied opportunities for learning and furthering myself through the educational experience," Browne says. "The friendships I've forged with students as well as professors were also a very life- changing and positive experience."

Alan George of Lebanon, Ky., has landed an internship with the Lexington Legends minor league baseball team this summer. The economics major will pursue a master's degree in sports administration from the University of Kentucky in the fall.

"I'd like to work for a college athletic department and eventually become an athletic director at a Division III school like Centre," he says. "Being at Centre has forced me to improve my work ethic and time management, and it's provided the opportunity to try things I probably never would have considered doing at another school."

Louisville native Meg Fenton, an anthropology/sociology and French double major has studied abroad five times as a Centre student, visiting Strasbourg (France), Vietnam, Spain, Morocco, Cameroon and Ecuador. She will continue her education at the one of the top photojournalism schools in the country, Western Kentucky University.

"I had a lot of great opportunities here to travel and explore my interests through internships," she says. "The direction I'm now headed in life has been shaped significantly by my experiences here."

This is the second in a series of senior reflections. Find out how Centre has changed other lives in the class of 2005 next week.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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