St. John's University is proud to be one of a select number of
institutions partnering with the Jeanette K. Watson Fellowship.
The Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship provides internships,
mentoring, and enriched educational opportunities to promising New
York City undergraduates with the goal of increasing their life
choices and developing their capacity to make a difference in their
own and others’ lives.
We are proud of our St. John's students who currently hold
Watson Fellowships:
- Lauren Smyth and Adela Ruiz from 2010
(See below for updates on these recipients.)
- Congratulations to our 2012 J.K. Watson Fellowship
recipient, Meiyi Shi !
Their biographies are found below.
The centerpiece of the Fellowship is on-the-job learning that:
- Provides opportunities for leadership and personal
growth;
- Helps students test in practice what they might be learning in
the classroom;
- Provides experience and insight on choices for future
vocations;
- Assists students in thinking about graduate program
opportunities;
- Helps students present more compelling applications for
national fellowships, graduate admissions, and jobs.
Students interested in familiarizing themselves with the
requirements necessary to be a Jeannette K. Watson Fellow can find
all the necessary information here. Students should also
contact one of our University's Watson Fellow Representatives,
Prof. Lawrence Pitilli.
Biographies
2012
Meiyi Shi
'15 was born in China and attended Stuyvesant
High School in New York City. She received a St. John’s University
Presidential Scholarship in 2011, and is a double
major in Biology and Chemistry. At Saint John’s University, her
interest in medicine has led her to become a research associate at
New York Hospital in Queens. She is also assisting a professor at
STJ in his research on Parkinson’s Disease. (Meiyi is considering a
career in either gynecology, teaching or Public Health
Administration.) While her primary interest is in the sciences, she
still makes time to foster her passion for human rights and is an
active youth leader with the Make the Road program, organizing
outreach programs and writing articles for the organization’s
newspaper. As a student at Stuyvesant High School, she initiated a
program to help her fellow students from some of the stresses of a
competitive school situation. Meiyi has already become certified in
HIPPA Research and CPR/First Aid.
Ms. Shi has been accepted for her first Watson
Summer Internship at Beth Israel Cancer Center. The internship
is from June to August 2012.
2010
Adela Ruiz '13 was born in the Dominican Republic
majoring in anthropology. She is considering several career
options: social worker, lawyer, counselor, or teacher. She
participated in a project to refurbish an old church in Detroit for
use as a soup kitchen and clothes drive location. Dedicated to
service, Adela works as a wellness peer educator. She has tutored
elementary school students, volunteered at a nursing home, and
acted as a church retreat leader. Adela is fluent in Spanish, and
has been awarded the National Spanish Examinations Gold Award as
well earned the Tri-City 3rd Place Award in the level 4 bilingual
category. Year Up New York hosted Adela for her first Watson
summer. She spent her second summer interning at the Office of
Council Council Member Leroy Comrie.
Update:
Adela Ruiz’s first Watson summer was spent at Year-Up New York, an
organization that works to prepare disadvantaged youth for jobs in
the corporate world. She worked at the legislative office of
City Councilmember Leroy Comrie during her second Watson summer,
and will spend her final summer in Venice interning at the Peggy
Guggenheim Collection.
Lauren Smyth '13 comes from Skokie,
Illinois and is also majoring in anthropology. A first-year student
with interests in architecture, curatorial work in museums,
anthropology, and languages, she is a Presidential Scholar
and honor roll student. Lauren is an accomplished French horn
player, having held the position of 1st chair in multiple
ensembles. In addition, she is also a versatile athlete competing
in soccer, basketball and swimming. Lauren was named the 2009
Senior Athlete of the Year and given the District 219 Superstar
Award for Athletics and Activities. Her volunteer experience
includes refereeing for the American Youth Soccer Organization,
tutoring high school students in literacy, and working for the
Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals. The Publications Office
of the Rubin Museum of Art is where Lauren worked during her first
summer. Fast Company Magazine hosted Lauren for her second
summer.
Update:
Lauren Smyth worked in the publications office of the Rubin Museum
of Art during her first Watson summer, spent her second summer at
Fast Company Magazine, and will spend her final summer in Hyderbad,
India working with the MV Foundation.