Nearly Perfect, Spelman Sisters Sit at the Head of the Class
May 6, 2010 by spelmancollege
Filed under Featured, May 2010
Ariel Eckblad has been acing tests since elementary school. The Spelman College 2010 valedictorian just maxed out her last final and turned in her last paper, “Palestinian Women as Suicide Bombers: Maniacal Terrorists or Vigilantes for Justice.” Now packing and feeling somewhat melancholy, the political science and comparative women’s study major will spend her next year in India studying women and democracy.
“I am deferring a year of law school at Harvard to travel to India as a Fulbright Scholar to interview women in the lower house of Parliament,” said the 22-year-old Fairfield, Calif., native. “I want to look at and compare how gender affects women in newer versus more established democratic societies.”
Graduating with a 3.988 grade point average, Eckblad is passionate about women and politics. She spent her freshman and sophomore summers as an intern in the office of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) . Fascinated by civil/human rights law, Eckblad was accepted into the Arthur Liman Public Interest Program where she studied at Yale during the summer of her junior year to examine issues of children’s and immigrants’ rights, drug policies, indigent criminal defense, and the death penalty.
Eckblad said that devotion and drive for the underprivileged was cultivated here at Spelman. While accepted to Yale, Harvard, Columbia and Georgetown, she was encouraged by her mother to come to Spelman.
“My mother knew I could do well at any college, but she wanted me to find a space where I would grow academically, spiritually and emotionally,” said Eckblad, whose Nigerian-born mother found her experience at a traditional college “uninspiring.” “Once I visited Spelman, I could tell my experience here would be unmatched and that has been my reality.”
As Eckblad writes her valedictorian speech to deliver to her 500-plus classmates, her Spelman sister and salutatorian Lauren Sprott barely missed being the valedictorian. With a 3.985 GPA, she said there are no regrets on being named the second-highest graduating scholar in the class.
“I definitely did not want to be valedictorian because I knew that she has to give a speech at the end of the year, and I absolutely dread public speaking,” said Sprott, an international studies major.
Sprott will spend her summer in a nine-week intensive language program in Mandarin Chinese at Middlebury Language School, so that she can return to Shanghai. A native of Plainfield, N. J., she just found out that she was selected for the International Agricultural Internship Program at the Agricultural Trade Office Shanghai post.
“I studied abroad in Shanghai the fall of my junior year and have missed it,” said the Institute for Public Policy Fellow. “I am excited to be going back especially since the World Expo will be there.”
Sprott, who spent the spring semester of her junior year studying abroad in Cambodia wants to pursue graduate work in international affairs where she will focus on becoming an analyst on Chinese affairs.
“Both of these young women are very smart and will do extremely well in life,” said Desiree Pedescleaux, Ph.D., dean of Undergraduate Studies. “They will be our next leaders.” – Renita Mathis is associate director and chief interactive editor in the Office of Communications at Spelman College.
EVERY single time I read about one of my young Spelman sisters, my eyes just well up, and my chest pokes out a bit more. I am so inspired by you two, and am happy to be your “older” Spelman sister!
Congratulations to both of you! You represent us so well, along with many other Spelman Sisters in the Class of 2010, I am certain. What a testimony it is to hear why Spelman became your college of choice, Ariel! I also knew, upon seeing Spelman’s beautiful campus at age 16, that it would become my collegiate home. I never even applied anywhere else! May God bless and prosper you both, and every student in the graduating Class of 2010. In Sisterly love, Dianne “Digi” Givens, Class of 1982.
Reading this article makes me even more inspired. Freshman year was a struggle that I don’t ever want to endure again. I am glad to see that my older sisters are doing well and I wish nothing but the best for the CLASS OF 2010!
This is why I’m SO excited to enter Spelman in the fall! I hope that I may be just as successful as these young women one day. Being a Gates Milliennium a scholar, there’s no place I would rather flourish!
Although it has been 25 years since I graduated from Spelman College, I am inspired each day as I reflect on my college memories and experiences. More importantly, I am inspired by today’s scholars and students like Ariel Eckbla and Lauren Sprott. Oh the places you’ll go!!! The Class of 2010 represents young women who are bold, brilliant and beautiful (inside and out)and who dare to live out their dreams. I look forward to hearing more about your accomplishments around the world and within your communities. Spelman will always be connected to you no matter where your endeavors lead you. Never stop giving to make Spelman and the world better. And remember your childlike stories from Dr. Seuss: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where you’ll go. Oh the places you’ll go.” Congratulations Class of 2010!!! Sisterly, Connie F. Smith, Class of 1984
I am so proud of both of my students. Both Ariel and Lauren are in my classes this past spring.
With peace,
Prof Gould
Reading about these beautiful, inspiring, confident, humble ladies has just really tickled my soul! I graduated from Spelman in 1989 and am prayerful that I pass the torch to my 11 year old daughter and inspire her to dream BIG like these ladies. Good luck to both of you (I don’t even think I could have imagined that kind of future when I was at Spelman in the ’80s)!!!! Run with it…In sisterly love, Adriane Keepler (HK)
It’s always inspiring to read about the accomplished young women graduating from Spelman. I wish all the graduates the best. I have tremendous pride for my Spelman sisters.
Congratulation, ladies!!!
All the best!
Congratulations, ladies!!! (…edited the closing in the previous comments:-))
Dr. Sheftall
Kudos to my fellow Spelman sisters! It is a breath of fresh air to read about your dedication to the plight of others in the world! You Rock!
I too share in the pride of my young Spelman Sisters who have achieved such greatness at a young age. There is no greater place for a woman of color to learn and to achieve and to impact the world than Spelman College. I am happy to say that my niece will enter Spelman in the fall and she represents the second generaration of women in my family to attend this wonderful institution.
Spelman College is the best!!
I too am excited to hear about all of the wonderful things Spelman women are engaged in. I recently attended and presented a workshop at the Spelman LEADS conference and was floored by the travels, the accomplishments, and the languages that accompany the experiences of Spelman women. As an alumna and professor of anthropology and women’s studies at Smith College, who carries the Spelman tradition to other young women, I am so proud of each of you and your commitment to womens’ rights and education here in the U.S. and globally!!! With sisterly love, Riché Daniel Barnes (HK 94).