2026-Edna Sam
Major: Government & Law and Spanish, History
Personal Statement:
“The Lafayette Ideal is a well-rounded, educated member of the senior class who adds to a sound academic record noteworthy participation in college activities and student life, which contribute to the advancement of the College on and off campus. Academic brilliance or athletic prowess alone is not the criterion for selection a a Pepper Prize recipient.”
For my final Posse retreat, I had the opportunity to reflect upon my time at Lafayette. I wasn’t aware of how much I would have to say until I was put to task. In realizing and commemorating how impactful my experience has been in our group of ten, I realize my wider impact amongst the campus community, and various outside commitments. I have been dedicated to my academic pursuits, not only qualifying for the honor societies associated with my majors, but encouraging other students to broaden their intellectual horizons, to explore beyond the “expected” and discover what they are passionate about. My genuine desire to connect with my peers has led to students becoming active participants in Lafayette communities: joining GovLab, restarting the Spanish Speakers club, becoming resident advisors, studying abroad, and so forth. Outside of Lafayette, I have remained a dedicated member of my high school’s alumni network, frequently representing Lafayette on panels surrounding the college application process, Posse process, scholarship application processes, and my experiences as the first in my family to take this path. I am well aware that while I am the product of my own efforts, I am also the product of the efforts of all those who continue to support and invest in me. In recognition of this, I have ensured that students on and off campus have access to equitable resources to realize their own goals. Participating in a bi-lingual clinic outreach internship during the summer of my freshman year and the Lafayette Initiative for Malagsy Education are exemplary of this commitment. Through my interactions with those belonging to the Lafayette community and beyond, my goal has been to impart a positive view of what it means to be a Pard, and provide an accurate representation of Lafayette’s institutional moral character.
Question 1: Please elaborate on the activity or accomplishment that has been the most meaningful to you during your time at Lafayette and why?
Education is a human right too often denied to those in the Global South. It is because of this fact that I find my experience with the Lafayette Initiative for Malagasy Education to be so personally meaningful. While preparing lesson plans as mentorship materials for Malagsy students, going to Madagascar and mentoring in person, and supporting students through their higher education pursuits, I was given a different lens through which to view my own possible future contribution to education reform. I employed what I learned as a mentor almost immediately. In McKelvy discussions led alongside scholars Ronnie Ward ‘25 and Alejandra Rodriguez ‘28, I passionately discussed Voluntourism and Literacy with fellow scholars and invited guests. During my legal internship with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, I made myself available as a multilingual liaison for firm Pro-Bono efforts, ensuring clients who did not employ English as their primary language would be active participants in their legal representation. LIME has provided insight into the great inequities that exist in educational access, leaving me with an awareness of my capability to have an impact in this space. I am eager to continue aiding in LIME and similar programs’ development, and am excited to see what spaces there are for commensurate initiatives in the legal arena.
Question 2: Please briefly describe any unique circumstances, highlights from your time at Lafayette, things you are proud of or other special considerations, anything that you feel is relevant to your consideration as a Pepper Prize applicant and that is not addressed elsewhere.
I viewed my need to be employed as a student as a hindrance; working meant that I could not wholly focus on academics, that I would not be able to explore activities as broadly as I would have liked. It meant that despite a desire to participate in campus activities, my time would be limited, the bulk of it taken up by working in order to ensure that I would be able to continue studying at Lafayette. There came a moment when I realized that it was ultimately primarily my responsibility to determine what this experience would look like. I wouldn’t be able to do everything, but no one really is. I chose the experiences that most aligned with my academic and personal goals, and did my best to excel in them while also being a student and working to support myself. I connected with other students, acting as a mentor and providing support and guidance. I’ve seen my impact reverberate in ways that can not always be quantified, and in doing so I have become a well rounded student, able to identify that which is important to me, dedicate myself to the community accordingly, and embody our Lafayette community’s shared liberal arts values.