The Gummere Fellows Program is made up of a talented and diverse group of students selected annually to represent the College as ambassadors who play pivotal roles in both enrollment and alumni engagement efforts.
2023-24 Gummere Fellows Annual Report
Admissions Impact
The Gummere Fellows program played an essential role in supporting another successful enrollment year for 91¿´Æ¬Íø. In an increasingly competitive enrollment landscape, it is imperative that the College always puts its best foot forward in any setting. Over the course of the past year, prospective students and families consistently approached admissions staff to remark on how well Gummere Fellows represented themselves, giving nuanced and thoughtful perspectives on their experiences as students. Below is a summary of admissions activities that the program supported:
- 3 Fall Open House Programs
- 7 Admitted Student Programs
- Individual email and phone call outreach to select admitted students
- Virtual meetings through admissions digital platform partner ZeeMee
- 1 fly-in program for 30 high school counselors from across the country
At in-person events, the Gummere Fellows are trusted in a variety of high-impact events, notably:
- Participating in student panels
- Providing campus tours
- Hosting admitted students in their residence hall rooms
- Serving as content experts in many facets of the student experience (leadership opportunities, internships, off-campus study, athletics, etc.)
The College was thrilled to announce another successful enrollment campaign for the current academic year, projecting an incoming first-year class of 420 students from 35 states and 40 countries. There is no doubt that the Gummere Fellows play an outsized role as student ambassadors in supporting the College’s ambitious enrollment goals.
Advancement Impact
The Gummere Fellows played an integral role in supporting the Office of Advancement by engaging with donors and alumni.
2023 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
- Participating in a student panel during the in-person Alumni Council meeting
- Attending events with the Class of 1973 for their 50th Reunion
- Providing campus tours to alumni and guests
2024 Forester Day
- Co-hosting Cash Cab with President Jill M. Baren
- Answering calls during the telethon with Spike
- Tabling throughout the week in the Mohr Student Center
- Creating plea videos and posting on social media
Forester Day was a very successful giving day, with 1,943 donors raising $818,531. Included in this total were the contributions of 206 donors raising $78,859 for the Spike Initiative. The Fellows enjoyed being part of this day to encourage Forester friends and families to give back to the areas that create an impact on our students, our campus, and our world.
Professional Development and Campus Leadership
A central component of the Gummere Fellows program has always been to offer meaningful professional development support as Fellows prepare to transition into life beyond the College as emerging professionals. Now that the program has had several rounds of graduating classes, we were thrilled to welcome back several alumni in different sections of the labor market to share their insights of professional life. The following alumni were generous with their time to return to campus:
- Aaron O’Neil ’21: Third-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law
- Sara Martinez ’23: Marketing Coordinator for Bluestone Staffing
In addition to the professional development opportunities afforded to all Fellows, seniors in the program are also awarded a $500 professional development grant to be used at their discretion to support launching their careers. This year, graduates used those funds both for professional wardrobes and fees for graduate school applications.
Lastly, it is notable that the 2023-24 Student Government President and Secretary were Gummere Fellows Jake Sharifi ’24 and Kate Kiameh ’25, respectively. Both represented themselves and the program at the highest levels of leadership in the College in ways that garnered respect across campus.
Recent Graduates
It was with bittersweet feelings that three Gummere Fellows graduated from the College this May. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their service to the College and wish them the best in the next chapter of their lives.
- Jake Sharifi ’24 (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
- Chelsea Davis ’24 (Euclid, OH)
- Luke Hendriksen ’24 (Redwood City, CA)
Selection Process and New Additions
The Gummere Fellows program continues to occupy a highly regarded status among current students at the College, so the selection process has grown more competitive each year. The program received 48 applications for just a handful of openings, and we are pleased to welcome the following new Fellows for the 2024-25 academic year:
- Megan Dodrill ’26 (Windsor, CO)
- Aidan Linsdey ’27 (Strafford, NH)
- Petra Urgacova ’25 (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic)
- Anika Kinnear ’27 (Lake Mary, FL)
- Diale Awa Shirri ’25 (Douala, Cameroon)
Staff Advisors
- Margarita Uriostegui | Admissions
- Kim Baker | Advancement