"Cornell students dream bigger dreams."

--Frank H.T. Rhodes, Cornell University Commencement, May 28, 1995

Monday, April 27, 2015

5. Jevan Taylor

Several of the alums featured between now and reunion were degree marshals for their respective colleges during our commencement ceremony in May 1995, an honor awarded to the two students in each college with the highest GPA.

Kansas City, Missouri · Human Ecology


jevantaylor@sbcglobal.net

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.

I am married, have 2 great kids, and have built a career in marketing and advertising.  Soon after graduating from Cornell I got married to my high school sweetheart, Andrea, and we moved to NYC.  I started a career in advertising and she pursued business management.  We soon tired of the big city life and moved to North Carolina.  I continued to work in advertising while we had two children, Rowan and Zane.  We moved around a little, finally settling in Kansas City.  I currently work in marketing for a financial services firm while Andrea is going back to school to pursue a second career in the medical field.  I keep busy striving to be a good dad and husband while continuing to build my marketing career.  I try to fit in a little tennis, hiking, swimming, and travel when I can.

What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found the most useful?

Not really a class, but I participated in the semester in NYC program, where I had an internship in the industry of my choice 3 days a week, while taking a multi-cultural class the other days.  This enabled me to see what my chosen career was really like, gain valuable job experience, and ultimately it was the key to getting that first job.  As the company where I did my internship hired me after I graduated.  It was the single most important experience in college that prepared me  for employment in the real world.


·  What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
Hanging out with my close group of friends.  Upon arriving at Cornell, I quickly became close friends with 5 other transfer students.  We spent the entire time at Cornell together, doing everything.  I remember playing tennis across from my dorm room with them after class in the sunshine on a warm fall afternoon.   Catching some sun in the Quad.  Hiking in one of the nearby parks.  Even sitting on the dock of the lake and watching the sailboats.

Which Cornell classmates do you keep in touch with?

Chris Erbig.  My long-time roommate at Cornell And currently godfather to my two children.

Monday, April 20, 2015

6. Leah Berkery

Several of the alums featured between now and reunion were degree marshals for their respective colleges during our commencement ceremony in May 1995, an honor awarded to the two students in each college with the highest GPA.

Albany, New York · Agriculture and Life Sciences


Leah.Berkery@sphp.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/leah.berkery

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.

I work as a physician at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY.  I am a hospitalist, which means I exclusively take care of patients when they are admitted to the hospital.  It is a relatively new medical specialty, and it has been exciting to be in such a challenging and quickly-changing field.  I am also the President of the Albany Area Chapter of the Society of Hospital Medicine, our national organization.


I decided to take on a new challenge last November by participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).  I actually had not written any fiction since high school, but I was able to write a 57,000 word first draft of a novel within a thirty-day period.

I love to travel, and am about to go on my 22nd cruise!  I also enjoy Zumba classes, and I have been licensed as a Zumba instructor for three years.


What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found the most useful?

The most useful class I took was one that was outside of my major (Biology), but which has proved essential to my career—Scientific Writing for Public Information.  The course taught me how to take technical scientific jargon and translate it into something that people without a scientific background can understand.  Every day in the hospital, I have to explain complex medical issues to patients with no medical background.  It is vital for me to be able to communicate that information in such a way that they fully comprehend their conditions and their treatment options.

What advice would you give to a student starting at Cornell this year?
I would encourage new students to take some courses in areas outside of their main fields of study—courses which have little bearing on their future career, but which are just interesting or unusual. This is your chance to explore and learn about new things! I was a biology major, but I was also able to take a year of French, a semester of Archeology, and (of course!) a semester on Wines.

What are you most looking forward to at Reunion 2015?

I cannot wait to re-connect with old friends from both Cornell undergrad and Cornell Med in New York City, which I attended for med school—a fair number of my Cornell Med classmates went to Cornell as undergrads as well.  I am looking forward to seeing campus again and doing some sightseeing in the Ithaca area.  I am also hoping I’ll be able to do some shopping at Wegmans!

Monday, April 13, 2015

7. Jake Karam

Toronto, Ontario, Canada · Arts and Sciences


jkaram@6thavenue.ca


Tell us about what you're doing with your life.


I am currently living in Toronto with my wife and enjoying being settled in Canada.  After Cornell, I spent a number of years in New York and earned my MBA from the Johnson School.  About 10 years ago, I started an online poker company focusing on the Eastern European market that required me living in some pretty interesting places in Europe.  Subsequently, a group of us bought a manufacturing company outside Toronto where I spend my time these days stressing over waterproofing products.  Socially, I couldn't ask for a better environment so I consider myself pretty lucky.

How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?
I find that there is a big difference between Canadians and Americans and their approach to entrepreneurship and risk. The people and the environment at Cornell helped shape my attitude towards taking bigger chances and thinking more creatively than I would have normally.


    How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?
Playing hockey had the biggest impact on my experience at Cornell but getting into Sphinx Head the spring of my junior year was one of my most memorable moments.  I found that whole experience to be very rewarding because it was outside of what I was comfortable with at the time.

What random or surprising encounters with Cornell or Cornellians have you experienced since you left?

I was living in Malta and I was invited to this magazine launch party at a massive outdoor club. The people at the party were excited about a DJ who was being flown in to play that night and in walks this kid who couldn't have been more than 20 years old. We ended up have a drink together it turns out he came to Malta straight from Cornell.  It is amazing how small a world it can be.

Monday, April 6, 2015

8. Stephanie Geller

Several of the alums featured between now and reunion were degree marshals for their respective colleges during our commencement ceremony in May 1995, an honor awarded to the two students in each college with the highest GPA.

Baltimore, Maryland · Architecture, Art, and Planning


Name at Cornell
Stephanie Lessans

stephaniegeller@hotmail.com



Tell us about what you're doing with your life.

I live in Baltimore with my husband, Jeff, and my two sons, Henry (age 12) and Ira (age 9).  Although I’ve changed jobs several times since graduating from Cornell and obtaining my MSW several years later, my professional goal to help revitalize our nation’s distressed urban areas has not changed.  I’m particularly passionate about catalyzing out-of-the-box, community wealth-building models such as worker-owned cooperatives to create quality, empowering job opportunities in low-income areas.  Outside of work, I love reading, games, and spending quality time with my friends and family.  I also love hiking, especially around waterfalls (which definitely has roots in my years at Cornell).

What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?

My favorite times were those spent with dear friends—first, hanging out on the 3rd floor of U-Hall 3 and then at “The Brick,” a dilapidated house on Eddy Street, where we spent many nights playing hearts, laughing, and just relaxing together!  I spent too much time at Uris Library, but even when I think back to those long days and nights of studying, my memories are quite happy ones—sitting next to good friends (we spent so much time in one area that we deemed certain desks to be ours) and taking breaks to enjoy stir-fries and cookies at the Straight.


·  How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?
As an Urban & Regional Studies major at Cornell, I learned about the interconnected nature of the systems, institutions, policies, attitudes, and many other factors shaping our communities and oftentimes resulting in severe urban challenges.  My classes helped me develop a “macro-lens”—an ability to recognize the interrelated forces that have left so many of our nation’s neighborhoods facing severe disinvestment and stress.  As someone now working to revitalize some of Baltimore’s poorest areas, this lens has helped me better understand the complex challenges facing this city and formulate the type of systemic-level solutions necessary to affect positive, sustainable change.  

What are you most looking forward to at Reunion 2015?

First, I am so excited to re-connect with my friends.  Our four years together at Cornell helped us become so close—I know that even though it has been so many years since we’ve seen each other, we will jump right back in where we left off—laughing, sharing, and catching up!  I also am looking forward to sharing one of my favorite places in the world—Cornell—with my sons, who are now 9 and 12.  They had a blast at the last reunion, and now that they are 5 years older, I know will get even more out of the experience.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Reunion 2015 Registration is Open!

Just a special post (no April Fools!) to let everyone know that registration for Reunion 2015 is now open.

Reunion is June 4-7, 2015, with lots of fun activities planned for all ages, including Friday and Saturday evening dinners for our class and the Kids Club for ages 6-15.

If you've never been back to campus for Reunion (or at all!) this is the one to attend.

Follow this link to register or go here for more information about Reunion activities and events.  

If you register by midnight on May 10, you can take advantage of the early-bird registration rates - $220 per adult for the full weekend. After May 10 the price jumps to $270. There are similar early-bird price reductions for partial-weekend attendance and kids as well. 

Here are a few more helpful links:

See Who’s Coming to 20th Reunion 2015:
Link to the 20th Reunion page:
Link to Reunion childcare site:
If you still have questions, feel free to contact our class's Reunion chairs:

Lisa Powell Fortna, Reunion Co-Chair, lisafortna@yahoo.com 
Michael Stroud, Reunion Co-Chair, dms12@cornell.edu 
Steve Strell, Registration Chair, strells@mac.com 

We'll post a few more updates here, but make sure to also keep an eye on the Class Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cornell1995
and Twitter account: https://twitter.com/cornell95 

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Ithaca!