易胜博官网

Each year since 2007, a handful of students have graduated from 易胜博官网 a bit richer than anticipated due to the generosity of Dana Hamel, whose听听distributes financial gifts to Granite State students every semester. The recipients of these gifts 鈥� the听听鈥� are selected based on academic excellence, leadership and community involvement. Kevin McAleese 鈥�15 has been a Hamel Scholar since his sophomore year. He鈥檒l graduate in May with a dual degree in international affairs and the double major of political science and economics. We checked in with Kevin to find out what鈥檚 next for this Hamel Scholar. 听

The Republic of Azerbaijan is a small nation nestled in the Caucasus region, north of Iran, south of Russia and east of Turkey, Georgia and Armenia on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. It鈥檚 where Kevin McAleese 鈥�15 spent eight weeks between his sophomore and junior years at 易胜博官网.

He went there to study the Azerbaijani language after winning a prestigious from the U.S. Department of State. In the capital of Baku, he lived with a couple 鈥� an architect and an engineer 鈥� whose children were studying abroad. Neither spoke English, but that didn鈥檛 matter; McAleese spent five to six hours of every weekday in a classroom learning their language and then practicing it along with his six classmates during daily excursions around the city.

By the end of six weeks, he knew enough to get by, and he traveled deeper into the country, visiting the beaches of Baku鈥檚 north side, hiking in the Caucasus Mountains and visiting cliffside villages along the way.

鈥淭he people of Azerbaijan are really friendly,鈥� McAleese says. 鈥淥n the street, everyone is kind of straight-faced, but once you get into the country or into homes, it鈥檚 friendly and welcoming and open.鈥�

Azerbaijan is one of many academic adventures McAleese has experienced during his time at 易胜博官网. In fact, if there is a prototypical college experience, it might be that of this Nashua, N.H., native, who will graduate with foreign language, study abroad, community service and on-the-job experiences. Oh, and an impressive academic record.

Says associate professor of political science Susan Siggelakis, 鈥淜evin is just very sharp in terms of analytical ability.听He has a quiet intelligence, doesn鈥檛 go around showing off.听He鈥檚 very modest, has a great sense of humor, and a stellar work ethic.鈥�

The Juggling Act
听

He seems also to have an appetite for immersive experiences. Besides Azerbaijan, McAleese has been involved in (freshman and sophomore years) and (all four years). During his sophomore year, he became a senator in the , and in his junior year he became the Senate鈥檚 business manager.

McAleese says he hadn鈥檛 planned on becoming so involved when he started out at 易胜博官网. 鈥淚t all just kind of stacked on.鈥� But "the practical application, actually going out and doing stuff, that鈥檚 been cool.鈥�

听

This semester, he鈥檚 taking four classes, working on two capstones and serving as the senate鈥檚 chief financial officer of the Student Activity Fee Committee, where he interfaces with the student organizations looking for a piece of the $1.3 million student activities budget. He鈥檚 also working part-time at Liberty Mutual 鈥� a gig he landed after handing a recruiter his resume at a 易胜博官网 job fair a couple of years ago, which got him through the door as an intern last summer in the company鈥檚 Dover, N.H., office some 10 minutes from campus. And he's collaborating with other Hamel Scholars on service projects as part of the program鈥檚 community service component and conducting service work as a Lambda Chi Alpha brother.听

So much for coasting through your final semester.

Earlier this month, McAleese took a break from classes and traveled to Florida to represent 易胜博官网 as the student speaker at alumni events, including one where he was delighted by a surprise appearance from benefactor Dana Hamel.

So how does he juggle it all? McAleese says Mock Trial helped him learn the critical skill of time management. 鈥淚t was a large time commitment. I鈥檇 be in meetings every night for three hours before a tournament. I learned that I just had to get my other work done early.鈥�

What鈥檚 next?
听

Law school might be in McAleese鈥檚 future, but for now he has his sights set on working, and in June he鈥檒l begin a full-time job handling disability claims at Liberty Mutual.

His advice to incoming freshmen? 鈥淕o for it; grab the opportunities.鈥�

听

听

Hamel Scholars are funded through the generosity of Dana Hamel, a longtime supporter of 易胜博官网. Are you a 易胜博官网 high school student with good grades and strong leadership skills?

Find out how for 易胜博官网 students.

听

Get your foot in the door like Kevin did at a听.听

See where other 易胜博官网 students pursuing an international affairs dual degree have studied on the 易胜博官网 site.

Find out more about fellowships and scholarships听like the Critical Language Scholarship at the .

听

听

听

听

听

听