Some time after graduation, Andrew McCabe,
winner of the Daggett Prize, is planning to hit the trail.
The Appalachian Trail.
“I used to hike a lot when I was younger, but I got away
from it during college,” he said. “When you're doing [Student] Forum and admissions and school work, every weekend is taken up.”
McCabe, who wins the award to the senior of best conduct and
character, has been busy indeed. After his class work for a major in computer
science and minors in math and economics and a full schedule as president of
Student Forum, a long walk in the woods may be just the break he needs, even
if it means carrying a heavy pack.
After sophomore year, McCabe and Robyn Kurland '03 started
Geisel House (a theme house that promotes childhood literacy); he joined the
Theme House Consortium; and served as a theme house representative to Student
Forum. Last year, he was elected president of Student Forum. He also served on
Student Affairs Committee, Theme House Consortium, the selection committee for
the House System Implementation Committee and as an admissions interviewer and
panelist.
The Union Scholar also was a member of the winter and spring
track teams, specializing in the 400- and 800-meter.
'The way the College
runs'
“I've enjoyed becoming very involved with the running of the
College,” he said, something he mentions often to prospective students and
their families. “At age 18 or 19, you can be on a committee or a group that
affects the way the College runs.” For example, Student Forum controls a budget of about
$500,000. “When I talk to parents and students, they listen when I say that
students plan the allocation of the activities funding,” he said. “In Forum,
you'll definitely get to know what's going on … whether you like it or not.”
He characterizes his time of leadership in the Forum as a
quiet one without much turmoil. Among his proudest achievements with Forum was
the establishment of a comprehensive web calendar of events.
As for coming to Union, the choice
was easy, he said. Besides a number of relatives who attended (His sister, Gillian,
is a sophomore.), he liked the College's blend of disciplines. “Union
offered everything that I wanted,” he said. “I didn't want to be a computer
science student at a technical school. At Union, you
cannot escape the liberal arts. You'll have computer science in the morning and
ancient poetry in the evening.”
Walking man
McCabe said he plans to go to graduate school, perhaps to
earn an MBA, but that he would like to work for a while first. In the near
future, however, he is planning his adventure on the Appalachian
Trail. “I think it will be fun to get outside and get a break
while I can.”
Because “through hikers” of the A.T. usually start the
2,160-mile trek from Georgia
to Maine in March, McCabe will be
looking for an eight-month job in the computer field. “In a perfect world, I'll
find a job that will take me back after I'm done with the Trail [in the fall of
2004],” he said.