Class of 2027

AHmir crawley

I’m a senior from Baltimore, Maryland. I am on the football team. I’m excited to learn from different people and their unique perspectives on unique perspectives on life.

Sam Jackson

My name is Samuel Jackson and I am a senior at Lafayette studying computer science and biology. I run the college’s rock climbing team and also work as a photographer and researcher in the biology and electrical engineering departments. In my free time I love hiking and cooking as well!

katherine jaimes

Holaaa, my name is Katherine Jaimes (she/her). I am Class of 2027 and an International Affairs and Gov/Law double major with Latin American Caribbean Studies Minor! I am from New Haven, Connecticut but I am  a proud citizen of the US and Peru and I’ll never shut up about carrying 100% Peruvian blood. I am truly very honored and proud to be part of our Mckelvy community and eager to engage with all my admirable peers. Aside from Mckelvy, I am the Co-President for Salsa Club and I say this to SHAMELESSLY plug Salsa Club, it is an amazing opportunity to socialize and meet new people and we are accepting new members of all skill levels! We also have added my own personal workshops/classes to include a more varied selection of Latin Dance Styles as well as some Peruvian traditional dances which I teach as well! I am also in THE PRESTIGIOUS PARDETTES an amazing hip hop/majorette dance team. Can you tell I love dancing yet ? Aside from Salsa/Bachata, I form part of many intercultural groups on campus, but I will specially highlight ISA (my true home away from home) and I am the Mentorship Chair for ISA! Other than that, I am the public relations chair for Spanish Speakers, the recent Head Peer Advisor for International Orientation Team, a Conversation partner in English, a student employee for Religious & Spiritual Life (RSL), and LAST but not least the current Social Media Manager for the Mckelvy Scholars Program! Mckelvy has been my home for the last 3 years so if you are at all interested please don’t hesitate to ask we would love for you to join our family. My favorite hobby is procrastinating my homework by chatting (BIG YIKES), so please if you ever see me around campus please stop by as I LOVE meeting new people. Besos <3

Bryan Kibet

What’s up! My name is Bryan Kibet (he/him). I’m a Senior double majoring in Economics and Policy studies with a Theater minor and this is my 3rd year in the McKelvy. I was born in Maryland (15 minutes out of DC) but frequently travel to Kenya where my parents and whole extended family is from! So going from a bustling city to a calm environment is quite a change. Besides being a McKelvy scholar, I’m a Posse scholar, part of the Chi Phi Fraternity, Rho Chapter, Student Government, a Resident Advisor, The Lafayette Mar-Keys, Marquis players, and Lafayette activities forum. As you can tell I love to stay busy so you’ll find me ALL over campus! At the house you can find me in the living room scrolling on tiktok instead of studying. In my free time I love to sleep, yap because apparently I’m a yapper, do anything outdoors, hangout/play sports with friends, don’t ever call me a theatre kid, but I enjoy doing musicals. Being in a community in this setting is totally different then what I’m used to and how I grew up, but I’m glad I took that leap and appreciate the blessings it came with. Also, I work at the college store so swing by and say hi…maybe I’ll give you a discount!

Ryver Kuhnert

Ahoy! My name is Ryver Kuhnert and I am a recent addition to the McKelvy Scholar’s program. I transferred to Lafayette College from the University of Alaska Southeast last fall (2025). When applying, McKelvy represented an opportunity to find a community on campus, or off-campus some may argue, that fosters unique intellectual expression and experimentation more than most.  Throughout my final year at Lafayette I will be active as one of McKelvy’s Alumni Relations/Historian officers.   In the house, you’ll find me listening to music in the garden, knitting one of my many WIPS (works in progress), fussing about in the kitchen, or sharing unsolicited trivia. For example, did you know that Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone suggested that the standard telephone greeting be, “ahoy”?  Sometimes I feel like a first-generation human, so you may also find me experimenting with everyday responsibilities, like cooking and cleaning. I really enjoy tinkering with my life and finding ways to make my experience as worthwhile and fulfilling as possible. Sometimes my adjustments save plenty of time, money, and energy, but also be prepared to come across some failed experiments.

nicole lenkiewicz

Hi! I’m Nicole Lenkiewicz (she/her), a senior (so old) from Clark, New Jersey, majoring in Biology with a passion for pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry! RISC is basically my second home at this point… so send snacks if you see me there. I’ve been a teaching assistant for three different Biology courses, am currently working on my thesis with Dr. Ospina-Giraldo studying Phytophthora infestans, and am also an RA for McKelvy! I was also lucky enough to participate in one of the geology interim trips to Ecuador and the Galápagos, which was truly one of the best experiences of my life. When I’m not in the lab or classroom, you can usually find me on the tennis courts as President of the Club Tennis team. Fun fact: I’m fluent in Polish (my first language) and run an online tutoring organization that helps Polish students learn English! Outside of academics, you’ll probably spot me at Mojo drinking way too much coffee and yapping someone’s ear off, listening to Harry Styles, Niall Horan, or The Weeknd, and attending any and every concert I can while trying not to lose my voice. You can also catch me on the tennis courts pretending I’m Hubert Hurkacz (my favorite player). Stop me on campus and say hi, I’m always down to make new friends!

 

barbara odae

Hi! My name is Barbara (she/her). I’m from The Bronx, NY and this marks my first year as a McKelvy Scholar! I’m an intended Anthropology & Sociology and Spanish double major. On campus, I’m on the executive boards Refugee Action, Alternative School Break, the Lafayette African & Caribbean Student Association (much love from Ghana, thee Gold Coast). Between classes you may also find me speed walking around campus to my shifts as an intern at the Gateway Career Center or a Dean’s Ambassador at Feather House. I love all things jewelry – from making and selling bracelets to finding festivals and slowly building up my arsenal of rings, necklaces and the like! I’m also very into music, books, and movies, so I’m all ears for song recommendations of any kind. Please do say hello if you see me around campus – just give me a moment to take my airpods out <3

 

ava oliphant

Hey! I’m Ava Oliphant (she/her) and I am a junior! My hometown is Sellersville, PA, but I also grew up in Marysville, Ohio (go Buckeyes!). I’m a Biology major and Chemistry minor with hopes of applying to dental school eventually. Pray for me. On campus, you’ll find me in RISC at the Bio-Inclusions Committee or working as a TA. I also do research in the biology department studying birds and plant genetics, so if you ask me about them I will talk your ear off. I can equally ramble about dentistry, and I am so happy to be the president of the Pre-Dental Society this year! If I’m not in RISC, you’ll also find me volunteering with the Landis Center, working with elementary school kids or tearing it up to an Elvis song at Gracedale Nursing Home. Dance is such a passion of mine, so I love to perform with the Lafayette Dance Team! Outside of academics and clubs, I am an animal lover (with eight pets at home), Hozier enthusiast, crochet amateur, and pretty solid baker. If you see me around campus, come say hi!

lillian sampson

Hi! My name is Lilly Sampson (she/her). I am president of McKelvy Scholars along with my good friend Audrey Weisenberge. I am a senior from East Brunswick, New Jersey. I am majoring in history and anthropology & sociology with a minor in architectural studies. During my sophomore and junior years, I created an exhibition in the Williams Center using archival materials. Last winter, I went to Hawaii and swam with sea turtles, which was a peak moment for me. Then, over this past summer, I used funds from my CaPa Scholars Fellowship to visit nine countries by Eurail. When I’m not in the coolest room on campus, you can find me on an art’s house porch, talking way too much in all my classes, or getting a lavender iced latte at Mojo. I’ve loved my time being involved in McKelvy, whether it’s been feeding deer in the garden or running the Instagram page. This program has given me some lifelong friends! If you see me around campus, feel free to say hi; maybe you can visit the OG McKelvy cat, Blossom :). 

audrey weisenberger

Hey grandmas! My name is Audrey (any pronouns) and I am a senior environmental science and Spanish double major from the beeeeyutiful town of Richmond, Virginia! This year I am SAUR excited to be serving as your McKelvy side by side with the colorfully unique Lillian Sampson. On campus, I am the kayaking chair for Lafayette Outdoors Society (LOSt), an eco-rep coordinator, an AVID climber and lafclimbz instagram poster, and run LaFarm’s West Ward Market farmstand. I also do research on bees! I am so so so SO excited to be spending my last year at Lafayette in this wonderful and amazing program. If you see me on campus (most likely in or around RISC), please stop and say hi! I know I look scary but I promise I’m not<3