From the nerve-wracking first-year cookouts to the senior-year job-landing celebrations, a college experience is nothing if not memorable. In the spirit of celebration (and not to mention throwback Thursdays), the Herd asked graduating seniors to submit photos of their earliest days on campus to be recreated in the days leading up to Commencement. It’s easy to see the changes on the outside, but less visible are the lasting connections that started during those first weeks on top of the Hill.
What’s better than bookending your WPI years with a Prez selfie? Caitlyn Peterson and Amanda Alves hesitated to ask President Leshin for a photo because, you know, she’s the president. “Amanda and I made a choice to ask after a little deliberation about it, but we both knew we wouldn’t regret it,” says Peterson. Alves agrees. “I was anxious about starting my first year of college as a woman in STEM,” she says. “But seeing President Leshin’s accomplishments and her personality and willingness to really interact with the students was so inspiring … hopefully one day I can inspire girls to get involved in STEM the way President Leshin helped me!”