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W&L Juniors Alvin Thomas, Erica Schwotzer Recognized as Generals of the Month for May

Washington and Lee University students Alvin Thomas and Erica Schwotzer will be recognized at the Generals of the Month presentation for May on Thursday, May 2, at 12:20 p.m. in the Marketplace in Elrod Commons.

Thomas, a junior from Skokie, Ill., is majoring in chemistry-engineering with a minor in poverty and human capability.  He is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. He is also a Bonner Scholar, representative of the Class of 2014 to W&L’s Executive Committee, the junior class justice to the University Board of Appeals, coordinator for the Volunteer Venture pre-orientation trips, alternative break chair for Nabors’ Service League and vice president of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

A graduate of Niles North High School, Thomas started the Robotics Club utilizing a $2,000 grant from NASA and using LEGO NXT robots to introduce middle school students in Lexington to robotics, electronics, computer science, programming and engineering design. He also is a student neuroengineering researcher, is a clinic and client support intern at the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic and a shift leader for Campus Kitchens.

Schwotzer, a junior from Pittsburgh, is a biochemistry major. She has a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship grant to support research in the biology department with Professor Gregg Whitworth, is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society and Pi Beta Phi Sorority and is on the Honor Roll and Dean’s List.

A graduate of Peters Township High School, Schwotzer is a volunteer at Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center in Lexington, is a peer tutor in chemistry and is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Dressage Association and the Southwest Virginia Dressage Association.

Generals of the Month is coordinated by the Celebrating Student Success (CSS) initiative and sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs to inspire engaged citizenship at Washington and Lee University.  CSS seeks to recognize students who are not typically or sufficiently touted for the depth and breadth they add to our campus community.

Thomas and Schwotzer were selected by the CSS Committee, which is composed of students, faculty and staff. Any member of the campus community can nominate a W&L student at any time with the online form at go.wlu.edu/css.

This is the last CSS presentation of the 2012-2013 academic year. The presentations for the 2013-2014 academic year will begin in September.