Shannon Moskitis '11 (Urban Studies)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Program, Urban Summer Fellowship, Public Service Scholars Program, student organization: Stanford Outdoor Outreach Program (SOOP)
Public service passion/research question
exploring the intersection of homelessness and domestic violence
Other activities you participate in
intern at the Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness, Safe and Open Spaces at Stanford (SOSAS). I will serve as a John Gardner Fellow at Silicon Valley Community Foundation this summer as part of the Haas Center's Summer Philanthropy Fellowship program.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center has been my home away from home at Stanford. From my days as a bright-eyed freshman signing up for too many mailing lists at the service fair to my first office job at Price Charities last summer, Haas has a been a central source of support, guidance, and opportunities. More importantly, the Haas staff has helped me to see service in a new light, not simply an “extra-curricular” but a passion that can and should impact all aspects of my life and goals.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I think we all express empathy in different ways. “Action” against any social wrong can take many forms, some less easy to recognize than others. No matter what shape it takes, I choose action because it allows for the possibility of change, something apathy can never do.
Alfredo Martinez, Jr. '12 (History)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Program, Stanford College Prep, Alternative Spring Break, 100K Cheeks
Public service passion
youth and education
Other activities you participate in
MECHa, Relay for Life, Project WRITE
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is important to me because it truly is at the center of public service at Stanford. The Center can give the answers to any question about public service, assist in any public service initiative, and point in the right direction for anyone curious about how to get involved. It has done all of that for me in my time at Stanford and will continue to be one of the most valuable resources I have at this school.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I've chosen action over apathy because it helps creates a better society and, on a more personal level, shapes me into a better person. Simply reading and thinking about a problem is not good enough for me; public service is a necessary follow-up for me to learning in the classroom. Likewise, putting off public service until after I graduate is not an excuse for me since I consider public service to be an essential part of my Stanford education. Choosing action over apathy is a way for me to test what I know and find out the type of person I really am.
Avery Brown '11 (International Relations)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Program, Stanford in Government fellow
Public service passion
international health and development, law and politics
Activities you participate in
I’m a member of the FACE AIDS National Team. FACE AIDS works to build a movement of students to fight AIDS in Africa. After freshman year, I volunteered teaching about HIV/AIDS with Support for International Change (SIC) and interviewing HIV-positive potential microfinance loan recipients with Village Hopecore International (VHI). I then interned with Idasa, an African democracy institute in Pretoria, South Africa, through a Stanford in Government (SIG) fellowship. I’m also currently participating in the Haas Center’s Public Service Leadership Program.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is important to me because it’s a welcoming and supportive community for students deeply involved and those just beginning to work in public service. Haas encourages me and other students to look at our futures through the lens of public service, helping us to find a way to take action in whatever field we enter. The Public Service Leadership Program has pushed me to be more deliberate about my service work and provided the opportunity to get to know 22 awesome students working in all kinds of public service. Discussions with these students and the center’s staff have been very motivating in my service work at Stanford. Every time I leave the Haas Center I feel inspired and empowered to act, and, most of all, that’s why I love it!
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Action makes me feel alive. It is a way of connecting with my community and the world by meeting and working with people around me for a common cause. For nearly everyone, I’m sure there has been a moment where a person, a class, a newspaper article, a movie, an image or a conversation has sparked an idea or an interest in getting involved in a cause. Action is the only way of discovering what could become of it and maybe making a big difference.
Vineet Singal '12 (Biology)
Connection to the Haas Center
Commonwealth Challenge, Alternative Spring Break, Cardinal Free Clinics
Public service passion
health care for underserved communities; veteran's health
Activities you participate in
I am the founder of Anjna Patient Education, president of the Stanford Neuroscience Society, and president of the Hindu Students' Association. I am also involved in a number of university committees, including serving as health coordinator for the ASSU.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is what allows me to connect with incredible and inspiring students working on the burning issues of our time. It is a place where we can all connect, and acquire the resources to go out into the world and change it. I am grateful to the Haas Center for being a shrine that nurtures student leaders to make substantive, meaningful change.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Action is greater than apathy because changing anything requires one to break out of apathy and take action. It is only through action that we can actualize our collective passion to reverse the status quo. The greatest challenges our world will ever face are present as we speak—global warming, energy, war, health care and disease—and it is only through firm and relentless action that we can solve them.
Shelley Gao '11 (History)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Fellow; Stanford in Government
Public service passion
international service, law and politics, gender equity
Activities you participate in
I have been very active in campus politics and the student government (ASSU), particularly in the Undergraduate Senate. I have also written weekly columns for the Stanford Daily addressing issues in student life and evaluating university policies. I have participated in Haas Center’s Public Service Leadership Program, and served on the Board of Directors for Stanford in Government and as an undergraduate representative on various University Committees.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is one of my favorite places on campus. The place is always full of energy and positivity. It offers so many resources for students interested in pursuing public service as part of their Stanford experience. There is a diverse array of incredible opportunities to meet every interest. Whether it is entering into government service, starting non-profits or finding the funds to pursue community based research. It is also a place to meet some inspirational students who have been involved in projects that have bettered the lives of people around the world. The Haas Center consists of amazing staff members who are very generous with their time in advising students, helping us to explore our interests and develop leadership skills.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
A Stanford education is a great privilege. Coming to the Farm marks a pivotal point in my life. This privilege comes with the responsibility to work towards improving our society. Leland and Jane Stanford expressed in the founding grant that Stanford students are expected to contribute “towards the pubic welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization.” This is a call to action. Stanford does not merely equip us with the ability to lead fulfilling personal lives and embark on successful careers. It prepares us to lead lives of service. We are expected to actively take responsibility for forces greater than ourselves.
Tyrone McGraw '11 (American Studies)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Fellow; student organizations SPLASH and Colleges Against Cancer
Public service passion
educational equity
Other activities you participate in
varsity track team; mentor for freshman student-athletes at Stanford; Stanford University Student-Athlete Delegate, 2008 NCAA Division I Regional Leadership Conference; member, Stanford University Committee on Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation and Academic Integrity Subcommittee for NCAA Re-certification; Cardinal Council
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy because, as the beneficiary of a struggle for civil rights that began in the twentieth century, I have a responsibility to continue that struggle, especially considering disparities today in areas such as education and health. I choose action over apathy because I believe in the importance of giving back, especially when I think of the many people who have helped me along the way and so many others—kids who look like me, grew up in neighborhoods like mine, and are probably equally intelligent if not smarter than I—who just haven't had access to the same kinds of opportunities. Furthermore, I choose action over apathy because "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." This sentiment is expressed in one of my favorite quotes, which appears in many different forms and was written in the aftermath of World War II by Pastor Martin Niemöller:
"In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was Protestant. Then they came for me—and by that time, no one was left to speak up."
Thus, I choose action over apathy because, at some point or another, we are all in the minority and find ourselves in positions of vulnerability. In these moments, we need someone to speak up on our behalf—someone to make our voice heard. In the end, action, as opposed to apathy, is the logical solution to injustice in all of its twenty-first century manifestations."
Andy Nguyen '12 (Chemistry)
Connection to the Haas Center
Stanford in Government, Patient Advocacy Program, Impact Abroad, Alternative Spring Break, Community Service Work-Study
Public service passion
health disparities, healthcare accessibility, civic engagement, human services, law and politics
Other activities you participate in
Catholic Community at Stanford, Health Care for America Now! Campaign, San Antonio Unity Newspaper
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
For many years, public service has played an integral role in my life. Before coming to Stanford, I spent four years serving as an Oakland Youth Advisory Commissioner advocating for youth issues in city government and three years working with several branches of an Annie E Casey Foundation initiative, Making Connections Oakland, working in community development and organizing. The Haas Center is important to me because it has allowed me to not only explore these past areas of experience in greater depth but also has served as an avenue to explore other public service interests. I credit the Haas Center with allowing me to pursue my passions at the intersection of policy, health, and community—advocating for health care reform at Health Access Foundation through Community Service Work-Study, serving as a fellow in the Office of Mayor Gavin Newsom through Stanford in Government, going on a health and community development trip to Nicaragua through Impact Abroad, developing a women’s health and health policy Alternative Spring Break trip, and more. Additionally, the Haas Center has provided me with more than just opportunities to serve, providing mentorship and challenging me to think more critically about service, ethics, and my learning posture.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
The first is that my most transformative experiences have come from service. From the temperature of my porridge to the lack of street lights on Oakland’s International Blvd, I have always been a complainer; however, I have found out that choosing action over apathy empowers me to address my own complaints. Public service has challenged me to become a stronger person who believes that “a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.”
The second is that I see myself and the opportunities I have had as the product of dedicated public servants, community advocates, and activists, who came before me. I aspire to follow in their footsteps endeavoring to build stronger, healthier, safer, and more sustainable communities.
Raine Hoover '11 (History)
Connection to the Haas Center
EPASA; Education and Youth Development Fellow; Science in Service
Public service passion
arts and culture, environment, human services, international service, law and politics, youth and education
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center has allowed me to experience teaching hands-on, and exposed me to diverse classroom approaches and classroom environments I would not have seen otherwise. Through my experience as a fellow with EPASA, I learned so much about teaching, the education system and lifestyle in East Palo Alto and other underserved communities, and how to organize and run a day camp. But the most important thing I’ve taken away from my experiences with Haas are the friendships and personal relationships I built with fellow volunteers and with the kids themselves. The Haas Center to me means Edwin, the 14-year old from EPA who calls me “mom;” Fernando, Esteban, TJ, all of “my kids” from EPASA; Rosa and Britney, the fifth graders from Science in Service; Kelly Beck, Julie Wilson, and of course the staff of EPASA, who have become some of my closest friends.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
We are so lucky to be learning and living in Stanford. Others—even two miles to the east—are not so fortunate. The Haas Center does much needed work in the less privileged communities around Stanford, and gives me and other students the opportunity to break out of the “bubble” and get involved. With Haas programs, Stanford students make a difference one kid at a time—the difference is so tangible that participation is a very rewarding experience, even if you can only give a few hours every week. Apathy is one of my pet peeves.
Minh Dan Vuong '11 (Economics)
Connection to the Haas Center
student group: Stanford Immigrant Rights Project (SIRP); Alternative Spring Break (ASB); Public Service Leadership Program
Public service passion
human services, international service, law and politics, youth and education
Activities you participate in
I am one of the program coordinators for Alternative Spring Break (ASB), helping other Stanford students find their way into the world of service and learning. Previously, I participated in an immigration-themed ASB trip and served as ASB trip leader in San Diego. I am also a founding member of the Stanford Immigrant Rights Project (SIRP). My Alternative Spring Break trips to the border and our outreach trips with the Stanford Immigrant Rights Project to local day workers have been eye-opening and fulfilling experiences.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
I love Stanford, but I have really found a second home at the Haas Center. The staff is great connecting students to the many resources and opportunities and sharing their enthusiasm and expertise through workshops and personal advising. It took me a while to navigate the seemingly endless landscape of programs, but I was able to take my interests and my work with ASB and SIRP to levels I could not envision beforehand—thanks to Haas. And, of course, I met many other students with their own passions for service and social change at the Haas Center.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Public service gives me a sense of purpose in life. It encompasses so many aspects from lifelong learning to sharing passions and joy with others. It is about making a positive difference in somebody's—a friend's, a neighbor's—life. It is about creating the just world I dream of, instead of waiting for it. I am living a fortunate life, finding support and opportunities wherever I look. To make these opportunities available to others, to enable others to realize their potential, I take action. It is a most rewarding experience.
Neveen Mahmoud '11 (Psychology)
Connection to the Haas Center
student organization: NexGen; Public Service Leadership Program
Public service passion
healthcare disparities, poverty issues, homelessness, human rights – acts of genocide, college access and empowering current and prospective first-generation college students, disaster relief
Other activities you participate in
Stanford Women's Club Lacrosse
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is important to me because it has become my lifeline to service while I’m here at Stanford. I have been involved in public service from the moment that I could walk. My mom made it very clear to me at a young age that I always possess the ability to give of myself regardless of my material wealth. As such, I began to see public service as more than an activity; it became my lens to the world—a lens through with I shaped my personality, my understanding of human interaction, and my academic and career aspirations. When I came to Stanford, the Haas Center became my anchor to public service. It offered the support that I needed to stay sane by keeping me connected to local service opportunities and other students who were equally passionate about a wide range of issues. Perhaps more importantly, the Haas Center opened my eyes to new and interesting issues that expanded my own passions and enriched my dedication to service.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy in hopes of changing the world—or at least sparking the brain that will.
Michael Tubbs '12 (Sociology)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Program candidate, Stanford College Prep mentor coordinator, Community Service Work-Study
Public service passion
law and politics; education and youth; ending the cradle to prison pipeline
Other activities you participate in
motivational speaker; co-chair of the Diversity and Tolerance Initiatives, Associate Students of Stanford University; co-coordinator of the Black Student Union High School Conference; Stanford Nonprofits Board Fellow-New Leadership Council; member of the Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid; campaign youth leader for the Children’s Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline; founder and executive director of The Phoenix Project; executive director of HG3 Academy; co-founder of the Taskforce to End Racial Profiling in Palo Alto
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is what I wrote my “Why Stanford?” essay about, as it demonstrates that the motto of our university, “The Wind of Freedom Blows” is not confined just to this campus, but spreads to the greater community. The Haas Center allows me to not only use my gifts and talents in service of others, but to ensure that my leadership/servant intelligence is progressing alongside my academic intelligence. Through the Center, I have been able to continue a lot of the work I did in my community in regards to youth empowerment and development and to make sure that the amazing opportunity that Stanford has afforded to me is shared with the communities that need it the most.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Because too many people have chosen apathy, thus giving us the world that we now inherit. Because choosing action inspires others from similar backgrounds to do the same. Because as someone born to a 16-year-old mother and an incarcerated father from Stockton, California, a choice of apathy equates to a choice of prison or death. Because “faith without works is dead.” Because I am the master of my fate and God the captain of my soul. Because apathy kills, but action births. Because I know what is, is not what will be.
Rachel Dowling '10 (Philosophy)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organizations: Stanford Anthology for Youth; tutor coordinator for Ravenswood Reads, Dance in Prisons class, service-learning and philanthropy honors thesis, Philanthropy Fellow
Public service passion
I am dedicated to the idea that all children have the right to learn and succeed. Elementary literacy is one of the most powerful tools in empowering young people to achieve success for themselves, and a human right of particular importance. Literacy may in fact be conceived of as a meta-right: a right which when held, allows the individual to protect all other his or her other human rights.
When children begin to read "at grade level," which means at the same developmental stages as their peers, they begin to mold their identities as successful learners and students. When children get positive feedback from their school and teachers, they are significantly more likely to succeed in middle school, high school, and college. Young learners teach their family members what they are learning, and pave the way for making positive changes in the lives of their parents and siblings. Therefore, teaching young children to read is a virtuous cycle that benefits not only the young students involved, but their immediate and wider communities as well.
I see education as inextricably linked to the greater picture in which students are changers of their environment, artists in the making, politicians, and educators themselves. It is a force that has international ramifications, and demands urgent attention from intra- and extra-national organizations. I think the demands of justice produce interesting and complicated questions for issues of equity in educational standards. What is a minimum level of schooling for children in Malawi? What is the minimum level for Americans? If they are different, why are they? What can we, as critical observers and powerful actors of change, do to ensure the just treatment of all children, in light of the difficulties developing nations have in providing for their own citizens? This is a particular interest of mine.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is the best place on campus to meet other people who are dedicated to public service, and to have wonderful conversations about important topics (where else on campus is Justice such a common word?). It is also a great place to explore a huge array of opportunities, both during undegrad and post-grad. The center is also a cosy place to do homework, or curl up with a book between classes!
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose Action over Apathy because I know that my work is necessary, powerful and useful. Yes, I take small steps toward justice when I organize my tutor transportation emails every day. Yes, baking a loaf of challah to raise money for refugees in Darfur seems like a drop in the proverbial bucket of need. And indeed, struggling to teach a kindergartner her ABCs over the course of months is a trial in patience. But if I didn't carry out these small steps, as a community, we would not be moving as quickly as we are toward a happier, healthier, and more just world.
I think it's difficult sometimes for people to realize that small or seemingly mundane activities that they do actually yield a tremendous good for the communities in which they work when multiplied across time and many people. But I just keep reminding myself that if I did not do that mundane task, it wouldn't get done, and we would be even farther from a sustainable and just world. I believe in the strength and grace of peace, and the possibility of achieving resolution. I believe that the quality of human life is of utmost importance for all people working in the service realm. This means taking care of yourself as well as others and maintaining your sense of stewardship for your body, soul, and mind as you serve others. I appreciate the Haas center because it is a place of balance, which understands the competing and critical needs of students on the Stanford campus to serve others and care for themselves.
Angie McPhaul '10 (Urban Studies)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organizations: STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition and Camp Kesem, Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP), Ravenswood Reads, Alternative Spring Break, Ford Fellow
Public service passion
anti-genocide
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is all about the people—the faculty and staff at the Haas Center are some of the most thoughtful, smart and committed public servants I know. They are incredible resources and an enthusiastic support network for students in realizing our own public service passions. Because of all of the friendly faces, I rarely have a short visit to the Haas Center!
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I believe action expresses priorities and my priorities lie in living in a more just, healthy and kind world. And, of course, apathy sucks!
Angie's work with STAND was featured in the New York Times on June 13. Read the article online.
Taylor Ray '10 (Psychology)
Connection to the Haas Center
Haas Summer Fellow, Ford Fellow, Greek Community Service Representative, Fellowships Program Assistant
Public service passion
international public health, development and microfinance
Activities you participate in
Support for International Change, Gaieties, Sigma Nu, Camp Kesem
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Summer Fellowship allowed me to discover my passion for global health and development. Without support from the Haas Center, I would not have been able to design an independent service project in Tanzania and would never have been able to uncover what truly inspires me about this work.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Because it's more fun that way.
Mayra Pacheco '10 (Psychology; MA Communication)
Connection to the Haas Center
Jumpstart, Community Service Work-Study
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is important to me for two major reasons:
- The children in Jumpstart (a Haas Center program) benefit from having us come to their classrooms and provide a much more exciting learning environment than they would have without the program.
- The Haas Center helps me break out of the so-called Stanford bubble for at least 10 hours a week.
It is very easy to get sucked into the world of academics and social commitments at our school, but the Haas Center keeps on reminding me that we are very lucky to be a part of a tradition of dynamic education. I believe that the work that Jumpstart does delivers this same character of education to the children we teach.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Apathy—the absence of passion, emotion and excitement...I used to believe that ignorance was the worst state to live in but have since learned that being apathetic is much worse. At least the ignorant are blind to the immediate problem; the apathetic see it in front of them and choose to ignore it. I chose action because I see the problem and even though I know that I do not have much to offer, I cannot simply step over it and forget it.
Brittany Stitch '10 (Political Science)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organizations, Community Service Work-Study,
Activities you participate in
I stumbled upon an East Palo Alto based mentoring program, Closing the Gap (CTG), as a wide-eyed college freshman inspired by Gandhi’s call to be the change we desire to see in the world. I became instantly horrified by the educational achievement disparity that exists today regarding academic performance between low-income, minority students and their often non-minority, wealthier peers. I have proudly spent my past four years at East Palo Alto Charter School, as both a participant and now coordinator of Closing the Gap, striving to be a proactive agent of change for these middle schoolers. Aside from my time at CTG, I am a children’s counselor for Camp Kesem, a Stanford Tour Guide and just completed my term as President of my sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is staffed by a group of individuals that truly care about students’ public service passions. Closing the Gap would not exist today without their resources—from leadership workshops, to recruitment help, to the provision of games and other supplies. Furthermore, I would not have been able to intern for a local nonprofit this past summer without the Community Service Work Study Program. I was able to witness the gross financial inequities pervasive in school districts across the country. My service experiences through the Haas Center have focused my passions and future aspirations on the intersection of the for-profit and not-for-profit world, and how such a fusion can better our current education system. I am eternally grateful to Haas. It truly has become a second home.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I think this quote says it all:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” —Anne Frank
I cannot sit back and do nothing; the time is now to make my dent in the universe.
Jessica Perez '10 (Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity/English)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organizations, Haas Summer Fellowship, Community Service Work-Study, Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP)
Activities you participate in
I am Executive Director of SEE College Prep, a nonprofit that provides SAT Prep for low-income students throughout California. This summer we will have over 600 students! I am also involved with Project Motivation, an organization that provides tours and panels for low-income/first generation/ minority middle and high school students who visit Stanford campus. The tours and panels are geared specifically to their needs. I seek to improve access to higher education for underprivileged students.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is my favorite place on campus. The staff is warm, friendly, and especially knowledgeable. I know that if I need advice on leading a student group, the ethics of service work, or finding a career in public service, I can always count on the support of the Haas Center staff. The student community at Haas is incredibly passionate about service and I value the opportunity to learn from and encourage each other.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I cherish the opportunities I have had at Stanford and will continue to have long after I graduate. When I think about how different my life is as a result of coming to Stanford, I am immensely grateful to those who helped me along my path. I can think of no better way of showing that gratitude than to help others on their own paths to success.
Ronnie Tisdale '10 (Drama/Human Biology)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organizations
Activities you participate in
* helping high school students with undergraduate scholarships and funding
* translating Spanish in the Emergency Room
* singing with Everyday People a cappella and Raagapella a cappella
* coordinating events as the RA in Murray House
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
In the busy world of Stanford University, sometimes we can get wrapped up in what we aspire to do as individuals. Being a part of the Haas Center reminds me that the reason I strive for success is so that I can extend the ladder and create opportunities for others to do the same.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I find that it’s usually more entertaining, rewarding, and memorable to be enthusiastic about every opportunity that we are fortunate enough to experience in our lives. Action, just like enthusiasm, is contagious. In addition, meeting others that are just as passionate as you are about service creates lasting friendships beyond the project at hand.
Janet Chu '10 (Human Biology)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organizations; International Mini Grant Program, Community Service Work-Study
Activities you participate in
I am the director of Student Clinical Opportunities for Premedical Experience (SCOPE), a service-learning organization focused on helping local emergency departments improve healthcare delivery by promoting efficiency, by interpreting, and by increased both patient and physician satisfaction. I am also a member of Stanford Student Biodesign’s (SSB) Medical Robotics Conference Team, an officer in the Stanford Vietnamese Student Association (SVSA), an officer in the Stanford Premedical Association (SPA), and a mentor for FIRST Robotics and Lego League teams.
This past summer, I volunteered with International Medical Options (IMO) in Papua New Guinea. I worked with physicians to treat rural villages without access to basic medical care and to train indigenous health care personnel to serve their communities as medics. I also participated in SEALNet’s Project Philippines (PP09), in which college students from around the world were paired up with local high school students to design and implement a project to educate their communities about the importance of hygiene and sanitation to reduce gastrointestinal worm infections.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is important to me because through the international grant, I was able to participate in IMO’s Papua New Guinea Medical Project. As a volunteer in the project, I was given the opportunity to learn and teach medicine in a challenging and inspiring environment. Limited access to the technological luxuries we enjoy here in the United States encouraged me to be creative and to hone my clinical skills. By teaming up with indigenous health care personnel, the project helps to develop a self-sustainable health care system and empowers village medics to care for their own people. Without the international grant, I would not have been able to participate in such a life-changing experience and to immerse myself in a new culture and lifestyle.
Through the many resources that the Haas Center offers, students can pursue their goals, interests, and passions. By providing such opportunities, the Haas Center supports its students and promotes its commitment to public service and service leadership.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy because I want to create a world healed, unified, and transformed. Someone once said that “indifference is the real evil. All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing.” With so many opportunities to give back to the greater community, it is hard for me just to sit around and not fight against the disparities and injustices of our world. It is through action that we can stand up for the oppressed, to be voices for the voiceless, and to build a more equal and peaceful world for everyone. I choose to act because it is my way of giving back to my community and because of my lifelong commitment to serving others.
Justin Libaw '10 (Political Science)
Connection to the Haas Center
student organizations Initiative Against Malaria (I-Am) and Stanford in Government; Haas Center Public Service Student Advisory Board (PSSAB); Public Service Leadership Program
Activities you participate in
I am active in Initiative Against Malaria (I-AM), a Stanford student organization working to raise awareness about the global malaria epidemic and funds to combat it. After returning to campus from an internship with Malaria No More, I was fortunate to find a group of students eager to contribute a student voice to the fight against this disease. A child dies every 30 seconds from malaria. The urgency of need, conveyed by this sad reality, and the entirely preventable and treatable nature of the disease inspire Initiative Against Malaria’s efforts.
I am also involved with Stanford in Government (SIG), a nonpartisan student organization dedicated to increasing political awareness on campus and connecting students with opportunities in public service. With SIG’s Campus Awareness committee, I have organized policy events to bring together students and Stanford faculty or visiting scholars to discuss issues of interest to both groups.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center has given me the opportunity to become a part of a strong community of individuals with diverse interests but a shared commitment to public service. I first met some of the amazing Haas Center staff and students as an Emerging Leaders Retreat participant my sophomore year at Stanford. This experience introduced me to Haas Center values and resources and encouraged me to spend more of my time at Stanford taking advantage of the Haas Center’s valuable programs and advising. With this experience, I knew I had found a place on campus to spend my time happily and productively. The Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP) has allowed me to think critically about leadership in service and to apply skills learned in the classroom to my experiences as a student group leader. Staff and fellow students involved in PSLP have helped me to approach service and leadership with a clearer sense of purpose and a greater confidence.
In addition to mentoring students and providing them with opportunities to serve, the Haas Center staff also asks students for their help in strengthening service at Stanford. I enjoyed the opportunity to return to the Emerging Leaders Retreat as a facilitator to encourage younger students’ service interests and greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute my thoughts to the Public Service Student Advisory Board (PSSAB). The Haas Center has helped me to explore my service interests and to create a personal foundation from which to affect future meaningful change.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy for a number of reasons. I choose action because it is much more interesting. I choose action because of the people it brings me in contact with and for the experiences that it affords me. And I choose action because there is work to be done, and because I am fortunate enough to be in a position to engage in that work.
Leah Kuritzky '10 (Chemistry)
Connection to the Haas Center
student organizations Stanford Dance Marathon and Students for a Sustainable Stanford; Public Service Leadership Program
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center provides amazing resources for students looking for a wide range of public service involvement. It provides a hub for new students to find their introduction to service, for somewhat experienced students to find their niche and develop their skills, and for long-time, accomplished philanthropists to refine their skills, locate funding, and branch out to new initiatives. For me, the Haas Center was a place I discovered only after my initial introduction to service through Stanford Dance Marathon. Once I discovered all of the opportunities at Haas—the programs, the workshops, the advice, and the camaraderie of my fellow students—I knew that Haas would become one of my most important resources at Stanford.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
When I joined Dance Marathon was really when action took over and I left apathy behind. I got involved in Dance Marathon because I knew it would be fun, and I had heard about dance marathons before. I knew next to nothing about the cause, but I did my duty, fundraised my total and came to the event.
The event lit everything up for me: of the 120 dancers who had signed up from my freshman dorm, a mere 10 stood with me at the start of the marathon. I thought, “How could people sign up for something so important and just bail? Don’t they know they are letting people down? What else is really so important?”
It was being so aware of the apathy on the dance floor that day that really strengthened my idea of action. I looked around at the students that WERE there. The students that had taken time from their busy lives to stand and dance in solidarity and in homage to those living with HIV/AIDS were clustered around me, and the apathetic world was in temporary spatial separation from the active world. I was proud to be a member of the active world, and the camaraderie I felt for my fellow activists was too strong to quit. Since then, I’ve been addicted to action and repellent to apathy. As addictions tend to go, I imagine that’s how I’ll stay.
Yvette Flores '10 (Urban Studies)
Connection to the Haas Center
Jumpstart, Impact Abroad, Community Service Work-Study
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center has made it possible for me to have experiences that I might have otherwise not had. As a student it is sometimes difficult to balance responsibilities with personal interest. Through their vast array of opportunities and their never-ending support, the Haas Center has made it possible for me to explore my interest in ways that make sense in the context of my life. I have used the flexibility of the summer Community Work Study Program to find summer jobs close to my home. I have had an experience abroad even when a quarter through the Bing Overseas Studies Program was not viable. I have found a loving organization that has given me the opportunity to work and help others, both in a fun and exciting way.
The Haas Center’s dedication to its groups and students cannot be overlooked, and that is why it has attained a very special place in my life.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy because it makes me happy. The satisfaction of having helped another human being will forever be one of the most rewarding feelings in my life. The fact that out of a somewhat selfish search for gratification my life and that of others is enriched is but one of the many ways in which public service has a way of changing people’s lives. I choose action over apathy because it is the path of growth.
Darius White '11 (African and African American Studies)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Program, East Palo Alto Stanford Academy (EPASA)
Activities you participate in
In addition to tutoring with East Palo Alto Stanford Academy, (EPASA) I participate in the student organizations Men Against Abuse Now (MAAN) and Project Love. MAAN aims to increase campus awareness on issues of gender violence and masculinity, while Project Love looks to inspire more smiles on campus.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is important to me because I feel that public service is an essential complement to formal education. For me, the Haas Center is where coursework, passion, and practice come together in the form of youth education and mentorship.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
One word: movement. As Newton’s first law of motion states, "An object in motion tends to stay in motion." Public service is a movement, built on continuous action.
Jamie Tam '10 (Biology)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Program, student organization Colleges Against Cancer
Activities you participate in
I am a leader of Colleges Against Cancer at Stanford, which organizes Relay for Life on campus each year. I am also involved in the Queer-Straight Alliance at Stanford and am passionate about LGBT advocacy.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center has provided my student group with endless support and resources. I'm grateful to the Haas Center especially for giving me the opportunity to grow as a leader through the Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP). My involvement through the center has been incredibly positive. Here I've found a community of service-oriented students to network with who share my vision of a world improved by collective action.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Because I don't think I could live with myself otherwise. It's hard but tremendously fulfilling work.
Sarah Golabek-Goldman '10 (History)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Leadership Program, Public Service Scholars Program, Davis Projects for Peace Fellow
Activities you participate in
As a Davis Projects for Peace fellow, I helped restore a Jewish cemetery in Bialystok that was destroyed by Nazis. With the help of Polish students, I filmed an hour-long documentary with Bialystok TV for Holocaust curriculums in Poland and the United States. I also conducted field research in Poland to examine the historical memory of the Holocaust from the communist era to today. I interviewed more than two hundred Polish educators, historians, clergy members, government officials, presidents of non-government organizations, and students to explore how the topic can be taught in a way that is meaningful for students today. I'm using this research to write an honors thesis, and am part of the Haas Center's Public Service Scholars Program.
I'm also involved in the ASSU, where I created a program at Green Library to double the number of textbooks on reserve in order to assist low-income students. I am involved with the Stanford Pre-Law Society and am co-president of A Human Face, among other activities.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
When I walk into the Haas Center, I am always greeted with a smile. The staff members are passionate about helping students discover and develop their public service interests and offer immeasurable support when challenges arise along the journey towards doing so. They make an effort to get to know each fellow in order to provide personalized guidance and make him or her feel like part of the Haas family. The students, like the staff, are always smiling because they are undertaking projects that motivate them and provide inner fulfillment. The enthusiasm I encounter at the Haas Center is contagious.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
My mom instilled in me a passion and responsibility to help make the world a better place.
Eutiquio Chapa '10 (Urban Studies)
Activities you participate in
Public Service Leadership Program, Stanford College Prep mentor, Ravenswood Reads tutor, student business advisor for the Career Development Center, labor/diversity work with the Stanford Mangement Company, former ASSU Senate Chair, editorial board member of The Stanford Daily, board member at El Centro Chicano
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is a community of people who care passionately about making the world a better place. It provides resources that help students figure out how to do so.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
It has never been a choice. I've always felt called to serve. Action keeps me sharp and away from only thinking about problems. Action keeps me connected to people and communities who do not have the opportunities I have. Action keeps me in touch with people who believe love and justice are verbs.
Vivian Ho '12 (Biology)
Activities you participate in
Science in Service mentor, researcher for the Martin Luther King Papers Project, ProjectLove
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is a place where I have grown enormously, not only as a public service advocate, but also as a person. While I've learned a great deal about community organization and science education during my time at the Center, I've also formed rewarding friendships with the students and staff. Everyone at the Center is so dedicated to service that it's inspiring—their efforts make a the Center a support network that is truly amazing, fueled by knowledgeable people who are impeccable mentors and friends.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action because the things I enjoy most in life weren't brought about by apathetic individuals. For example, the rights I exercise consistently, like the right to free speech and the right to vote, were established by dedicated activists, not passive onlookers. Thus, as long as I continue to reap the benefits of other people's efforts, I feel that I have a moral obligation to contribute to the causes that I believe in. Hopefully, the things that I can do to change the community will inspire others to choose action over apathy as well.
Josh Wong '10 (Human Biology)
Connection to the Haas Center
student organization Stanford Association for International Development, Pacific Free Clinic, Public Service Leadership Program, Alternative Spring Break: Healthcare of Underserved Communities in the Central Valley of California, Patient Advocacy Program
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is a nexus of all the community service activities occurring on campus. The Center really helps to refocus the incredible buzz of activity on campus on the rights and needs of underserved communities. Having a group of students around who really are committed to fighting these injustices, no matter what they are, really demonstrates the incredible collective spirit of community service that exists on this campus. I find this incredibly inspiring.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
We often hear the truism that viewing the glass as half-full is better than seeing it half-empty.
I disagree.
To look around the world and turn a blind-eye to the suffering of others is intolerable. Witnessing these injustices in the age in which we live is not the domain of a select few either; everyone, particularly at Stanford, is well aware of the atrocities that occur every day. We cannot ignore the imperative to action that every one of these stories cries out for.
Meet Jennifer Levy '11 (Biology)
Connection to the Haas Center
Science in Service
Activities you participate in
Science in Service, Bridge Peer Counseling, Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal, research in the Biology Department
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
When I entered Stanford, I knew I wanted to become involved in public service. During my freshman year, I began volunteering with Science in Service (SiS), a Haas program that combined my interests in science and tutoring. Over the past two years, I’ve taken on greater responsibility for the program and become more invested in its success. I found that the more time I devoted to enhancing the program, the more passionate I became about tackling educational inequity, a main goal of SiS.
The dedicated Haas Center staff has encouraged me to combat social injustice, and the center provides the resources for all of us to do so. Working at the Haas Center—and engaging with the local community through SiS—has shaped my world views, opinions, and values more than any other experience at Stanford. I am confident that my drive to help others, fostered by my connection to the Haas center, will extend beyond graduation.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Stanford students have the potential to positively impact the lives of others, and because the resources are available, I feel we have a responsibility to do so.
Meet Aleya Dhanji '10 (Physics)
Connection to the Haas Center
student organization: Public Service Leadership Program, Right to Education for All Children (REACh)
Activities you participate in
I am the founder of REACh (Right to Education for All Children), a student group that raises awareness of the political, social and economic issues relating to the education of children in developing nations. The group’s founding principle is that all children have a right to quality education, education that goes beyond material needs and desires to enrich both the mind and soul. Currently, the group also raises funds for schools in Kenya and Bangladesh. I am currently mentor to the new leadership.I also serve as financial office of the Ismaili Student Association, which provides social, educational and religious programming for Ismaili students and increase the awareness and understanding of the Ismaili Muslim faith in the Stanford community at large.
My research at the Physics Department focuses on blazars, a type of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). AGN are supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies that are actively accreting matter. The recent launch of the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope, designed and developed at Stanford and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, is providing a new window into the gamma ray region of AGN spectra. I use data from the telescope and available literature to try and gain insight into the link between the accretion disk surrounding the black hole and the relativistic jets emerging from them.
I spend a lot of my free time reading and writing poetry. Currently, I am a pre-assigned resident in Adelfa (which is in its first year as a writing focus house), where I am working with fellow residents to create a vibrant community of writers exploring a wide range of writing genres, from academic essays to poetry, fiction, songs, and plays.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is a tremendous source of inspiration and encouragement. Not only are the staff an invaluable source of information and other resources, but they are all also role models of what it means to be a leader and to perform public service. I have learned an immense amount just by observing how they live their lives and carry out their daily responsibilities. Ultimately, it is their spirit that touches me most. There is not a single time when I have not been greeted by a smile and not a single visit that has not left me with a smile. Like water that imparts life to everything that it touches, the Haas Center staff gives joy and encouragement to every student that comes their way.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I believe that we are all, first and foremost, global citizens. What affects one person affects us all, for we are human beings first and national citizens second. We all have the capacity and responsibility to effect social change. Furthermore, it is not a lack of money or resources that stands in the way of progress, but our lack of will. The old adage that “evil thrives when good men do nothing” still holds. When one person stands by and does nothing, and then another, and then one more . . . what should not be tolerated becomes accepted and suffering is allowed to spread until it engulfs more and more innocent people and the problem seems insurmountable. Each of us needs to do our part. Only together can we succeed. I choose action over apathy because I will not renounce my duty as a global citizen and I will not live my life as a machine rather than a human being. What makes us human is what good we do in this world.
Meet Alex Holtzman '12
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Interest Law Fellow at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco, student organization: Stanford Theatre Activist Mobilization Project (STAMP)
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is a wellspring of talented people interested in committing themselves to helping others and improving the world. With so many people involved in so many innovative approaches to public service, I am inspired to try to deepen my own service each time I visit. Sometimes that inspiration comes from talking with a member of a service-focused student group about his or her group and its mission. Other times, it is a conversation about the challenges our generation faces and the potential for us as Stanford students to make a difference. Best of all, the many staff, students, and student groups who call the Haas Center a home will continue to bring exciting new ideas, pushing themselves and me to look towards more effective service.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy because there is nothing more amazing than watching someone discover that he or she can change the world, even in a small way. I most often see it in the eyes of audience members coming to STAMP projects. There is a moment when they feel empowered to take action themselves by talking to friends, joining a student group, or donating time or money. Talking to audience members after projects, I have heard from many that they did not know enough about the issue to take action, or thought the issue was too large for them to have an impact. Robert Kennedy said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. And in the total of all those acts will be written the history of a generation.” People want to choose action, but just may not have the tools. Through STAMP’s projects and all my work with the Haas Center, I hope to build and share some of those tools that allow others to make a difference by taking action against problems they see around them.
Meet Marlene Orozco '10 (Sociology)
Connection to the Haas Center
Public Service Scholars Program (PSSP), East Palo Alto Stanford Academy (EPASA), Education and Youth Development Fellowship, Community Service Work-Study, Alternative Spring Break, Stanford in Government
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center has been central to my Stanford experience because it has allowed me to share what I learn in a position of higher education with my community. Growing up in an immigrant low income community, I was never around anyone who had gone to college. Through community partnerships, Stanford students are given the opportunity to serve as mentors to younger students ranging from kindergarten to high school in the local communities.
I have been involved with the East Palo Alto Stanford Academy (EPASA) since my freshman year. As one of the student directors of the program, the seventh- and eighth-grade students have contributed more to my growth and development than I ever could have imagined. Not only do they teach me the most recent slang and trends to keep me forever young, they have allowed me to grow as a leader and community advocate. Through the Haas Center and EPASA, my studies have been given deeper meaning and my life guided toward public service beyond Stanford.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy because I believe firmly in the nation’s promise of equal opportunity but I know this ideal has been far from the educational reality for many low income and minority students. For this reason, I hope to continue advocating and supporting access to higher education for all students. If I had chosen apathy, I would not have gone to college. If I had chosen apathy, I would not be showing the way for others to do the same. If I had chosen apathy, my life’s purpose would remain unfulfilled.
Meet Amy Kwon '10 (Biomedical Engineering)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organization Stanford MELODY (Music Enrichment Learning on Developing Youth); Alternative Spring Break
Activities you participate in
I teach free piano lessons to elementary school students in Redwood City. I also teach private piano and cello lessons, perform chamber music (in a piano trio), and am an RA for the arts theme dorm on campus (Kimball). In addition, I participated in the 2009 Alternative Spring Break trip, Healthcare of the Underserved in the Central Valley of California.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
It’s a wonderful resource for students who want to either start their own group or reach out to the community through various tutoring programs, environmental activist groups, etc. It’s a great meeting place for our group, and of course, we love the vans—which we need to get over to the designated elementary schools in Redwood City. It’s also great to know that there are so many students who are dedicated to service; one can meet a lot of really neat people through Haas Center events!
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I’ve never liked sitting around and watching others do things—I like to get involved and positively impact the community around me! I’ve formed really valuable friendships and profound personal revelations through my service experiences, and I feel that I can only grow more as a person by continuing this journey.
Meet Kate McGrath '10 (Biology/Music)
Connection to the Haas Center
public service student organization; Ravenswood Reads
Activities you participate in
I am active in Colleges Against Cancer, a student team and division of the American Cancer Society dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health threat through education, advocacy, and service. I first became involved with the American Cancer Society after being diagnosed with cancer at age 15. I wanted to take control and fight back against this disease that had taken too much from my family and the people I loved. Colleges Against Cancer has provided me with the opportunity to celebrate those who have survived, remember those we have lost, and fight back against a disease that has so profoundly shaped my life. I have held the position of Survivorship Chair for two years and Relay For Life Chair for two years.
I have also been involved with Ravenswood Reads as a tutor. I learned of this program through my Education 103a class and it has been the most rewarding class I have taken at Stanford. Helping to develop my student’s confidence in reading and writing was rewarding, and these skills will empower her in whatever she may choose to do in the future.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center encourages and supports students seeking to make an impact on their community. They provide the resources and training that make it possible for students to achieve their vision. I delight in seeing staff from the Haas Center fighting back against cancer at Relay For Life—they not only mentor student groups in the office, but embody the spirit of public service by taking action in our campus community. They literally walk the walk! What better mentors than those who know what it’s like to pound the pavement fundraising, walk a track in the hot sun, and stay up all night to support the fight against cancer? I have felt an overwhelming sense of support from the members at the Haas Center who have mentored me in goal-setting, provided encouragement on those tough days, and reminded me of the positive impact individuals can have on their community. The Haas Center offers something for everyone—it can match any interest. It is a fine showcase of Stanford’s commitment to public service.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Herman Melville once said, “We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.” Apathy severs part of this web. When one ceases to take action, one loses the thread that goes out from oneself. Choosing action is empowering. Sending out your thread, watching it entwine with another’s, twisting, and weaving its way back to you is profoundly gratifying. You never know the impact of your action until that thread you send out returns to you.
Meet Sekhar Paladugu '12 (History)
Connection to the Haas Center
Stanford in Government Fellowship
Activities you participate in
This past summer I received a Stanford in Government (SIG) fellowship to intern for openly gay City Supervisor Bevan Dufty of San Francisco. It was an exciting opportunity to explore government on a local level, and also to work in a four-person office under a great role model (who is currently running for mayor). The best take-away was taking my summer experience back to my work on campus, all the while learning more about myself. Since I live in Branner Hall, Stanford’s public service-themed dorm, I have ample opportunity to interact with like-minded peers and tell them my stories.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
Haas and SIG gave me more than just money to live and work in city government for over two months—they gave me support and a network of contacts. My boss learned my name before I even came in, and within an hour he had me sit in on a meeting with senior citizens concerning budget cuts to their meal programs. I immediately got a sense of the issues he was weighing in his work on the Board of Supervisors. Bevan Dufty is not only an openly gay man but also the father of a three-year-old daughter, and represents the same district Harvey Milk did. Working with him and in this environment taught me so much about the City of San Francisco, as well as people in general.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Because without action I wouldn’t be who I am. Action connects me to the world around me in a way that makes me feel alive.
Jenna Anne Yamich Hailey '10 (Feminist Studies)
Connection to the Haas Center
Haas Summer Fellowship, Community Service Work-Study
Public Service Passion
ending violence against women; addressing gender and racial inequality
Activities you participate in
Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness and the Stanford Partnership to End Violence Against Women, Stanford American Indian Organization, Stanford Powwow Committee, ethnic theme associate for Muwekma-Tah-Ruk
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is the one place on campus for “service nerds” (as one of my fellow Haas fellows calls us). It allows all students to find and explore public service and their specific passions and is an amazing resource for the Stanford community and beyond. I first interacted with the Haas Center freshman year with the community service work-study program and was amazed that I was able to find a program that paid me to go home and do the public service work that I desperately wanted and needed to do.
Since then I have turned to the Haas Center each year to support my public service work over the summer. I was once again grateful to find a summer fellowship that allowed me to focus on a project that I had been thinking about for a long time and that was needed in my hometown. The Center is a much-needed resource for the Stanford community and I am amazed at all of the remarkable work that my fellow Stanford students accomplish. For me, the Haas center has always been there to support my need to do public service and make the world a better place.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy because I want to create a better world, a world free of violence and inequality. Growing up on an Indian reservation, I experienced and witnessed so much injustice and hardship that I could not just stand by and watch. I realized my purpose when I had countless friends who had endured violence and abuse simply because they were women, and since then I have been working tirelessly to end violence against women. I refuse to accept a world where people are discriminated against and suffer hardship because of their location, ethnicity, gender, background, health, age or any other excuse and I choose to take action. I choose to work for a better world and believe that everyone can make a difference in the lives of others.
Tiffany Wang '10 (Biology)
Connection to the Haas Center
Science in Service
Public Service Passion
health; youth and education
Activities you participate in
I was involved with Science in Service as a student assistant during my first quarter at Stanford. Since then I've become a mentor, and this year I am a mentor coordinator. I am also involved in Hopes (Huntington's Outreach Project for Education at Stanford) and the jazz dance group Urban Styles in addition to working as a college assistant for Freshman Sophomore College.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center is one of the most hopeful places to be on the Stanford Campus. Walking into the center, reading stories, and seeing amazing pictures of Stanford students participating in diverse service activities reminds me why I am here. The community at the Haas Center is also amazing. It is unique in its intense focus on enabling Stanford students and faculty to reach out to the greater community. It forces us to break out of our “Stanford bubble.”
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I choose action over apathy because I can. As an individual who has the privilege of having access to resources to take action, there is no part of me that would deem apathy as an acceptable course of action. Stanford has a plethora of resources for students to get involved with the community; to take action against social injustices, help support volunteer efforts, give to those in need—the list of things we can do is endless. How could one choose apathy in such an environment?
Bill Loundy '10 (Earth Systems/English)
Connection to the Haas Center
I'm the campus director for Dance Marathon 
2010. We're the largest student organization on campus (by a long shot!) and also the largest student-run philanthropy in the Bay Area.
Public Service Passion
Dance Marathon specifically targets issues that involve international health and human services, so that's something I care deeply about. I'm especially enthusiastic about holistic approaches to solving the world's big problems. Community partnerships that emphasize not only basic health care, but also educational opportunities and economic empowerment can have a huge impact. This is the model for Partners in Health, my favorite nonprofit and Dance Marathon's main beneficiary this year. I'm also passionate about social justice and the environment, so I'm considering applying to law school down the road.
Activities you participate in
Dance Marathon has pretty much taken over my life recently, but I'm also a campus Peer Health (and Wellness) Educator through Vaden and I've been involved with a number of activist groups on campus. I served as a core member of the Stanford NAACP and I'm a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Last year, I organized with Students for Barack Obama (SFBO) and that eventually turned into a full time job on the campaign in New Mexico. In my free time, I'm a Stanford tour guide—it's a really fun way to make an extra buck.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
Dance Marathon really depends on Haas for a wide array of resources and services, especially because we're a young organization that has experienced monumental growth—we've raised over $500,000 in just a few years. In the past few days DM has counted on Haas for financial advice, fundraising support, and help with our autumn all-staff retreat. Haas has also worked with us to collaborate with like-minded service groups on campus, something that I would like to see happen more often with all sorts of campus groups. Fun people and free printing are icing on the cake.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
I'll always be an "action" person. I don't know what a world of apathetic people would even look like—probably pretty scary. Also, ten years from now, "action" people will have cooler stories than "apathy" people.
Catherine Lisa Aranda '10 (International Relations)
Connection to the Haas Center: EPASA tutor coordinator, Haas Summer fellow (Summer 2007), Youth and Education fellow (EPASA) (Summer 2008), Community Arts fellow (Summer 2009), Community Service Work-Study, Alternative Spring Break
Public Service Passion: arts and culture, youth and education
Activities you participate in:
I am the student director and eighth-grade English teacher for EPASA. Following my Youth and Education Fellowship with EPASA last summer, I became involved with the organization during the academic year as a tutor coordinator. I’ve participated in the fellowships program for 3 summers now, conducting service projects back home in Texas and here in the Bay Area related to education and the arts. I also participated in the Alternative Spring Break program during my sophomore year, an opportunity that developed my interest in educational inequity and policy in California.
Why is the Haas Center important to you?
The Haas Center has been a second home to me since I was seven years old. My three older siblings also attended Stanford, each pursuing diverse interests and engaging in different forms of community service. They entered the doors of Haas as well-intentioned individuals and left as well-prepared and informed citizen leaders. Within this home, we each have enriched our notions of giving and what it means to be a public servant. Through service learning, we have addressed social stratification and the complexities that define a community—sustainability, community partnerships, and saying thank you are not unfamiliar considerations. I walk through the Haas Center and feel a want, a need, to facilitate change and to be changed.
Why do you choose action over apathy?
Our parents and grandparents valued family, education, and respect. From their example and wisdom, growing up, I understood that I had a responsibility to promote those same values. Now, as a young, Mexican-American woman from a poor community who was given the opportunity of good health and higher education, I have the privilege of choosing action over apathy. Within my own minority community, I have an obligation to address the issues that inhibit social progress. I choose to teach public school children how to play the violin, because budget cuts took away the music programs that I had. I choose to mentor middle school students, because many don’t have a support system to help them transition from adolescence to young adulthood like I did. I choose to promote the arts, because without them, my education would be incomplete and my spirit, absent. In many ways, before I knew the importance of good decision making, action chose me.
