Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D., dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, welcomed 78 Presidential, Dean’s and Merit Semifinalist Scholars to the Class of 2010 at a reception held in Dagger John’s on Sept. 13. Scholars were introduced to faculty directors of programs in prestigious fellowships and grants competition, study abroad, and the pre-health professions. They also heard from the directors of the honors program and the Fordham chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
Hailing from 18 states and one foreign country, the FCRH scholars were as diverse in their areas of interest as they are in their geographic origin. Oludolapo Fakeye, a Dean’s Scholar from Abuja, Nigeria, will study economics. He found his way to Fordham through Patrick Ryan, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, and two countrymen, one now a junior and the other a senior at Fordham. Although Dolapo, as he is called by friends, applied to a handful of other universities, including Princeton, he became convinced that Fordham was the right choice for him. His mother accompanied him to campus and left him with a smile. “She was happy for me and knows she is leaving me in good hands,” Dolapo said.
Robinson Muir, a Dean’s Scholar from Seattle, Wash., is also about as far from home as one can get without leaving the country. With aspirations of law school and a career in public interest law, Robinson was looking for a Catholic university in an urban setting. “I fell in love with the campus, everyone was so friendly,” he said of his first visit to Rose Hill. He arrived early to participate in Urban Plunge, and plans to major in political science.
