Looking to Make Her Mark

When Judith Suffrard, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, visited RWU in the summer between sixth and seventh grade, RWU made such an impression that – even though she received full-tuition scholarships to three other universities – it was still an easy decision to become a Hawk.

"Of every school I visited, I loved Roger the most."

From the small class sizes to the beautiful campus, she knew RWU was where she wanted to be. Yet financially, she was worried the university was out of reach. So Suffrard, a first-generation college student who grew up speaking Haitian Creole at home, applied for the Intercultural Leadership Ambassador Program & Scholarship, which recognizes and rewards students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate great academic and leadership potential, and an aptitude for perseverance and community involvement.

"I was shocked when I heard I got in," Suffrard says. "I knew right away I was coming here."

And now that she's here, Suffrard is determined to make her mark as leader on campus. She's already started this effort by becoming the vice president of the Class of 2021 and looking into joining other campus clubs and organizations, such as the campus radio station so she can broaden her communications skills.

Apart from getting involved on campus, like many first-years, Suffrard says she's getting adjusted to life at her dream school. ILAPS is helping with that.

She already feels a sense of unity with her fellow ILAPS freshmen, who she got to bond with because of the programs early move-in and cohort-building activities. "I wouldn't trade them for anything," she says.