Caitlin Flood ’12 Selected as Truman Scholarship Finalist

Caitlin Flood '12

Caitlin Flood ’12 (Bellerose Terrace, N.Y.) has been named a finalist in the 2011 Harry S. Truman Scholarship competition.

Truman Scholarships recognize students with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education, or elsewhere in public service. The scholarships provide up to $30,000 in funding to pursue graduate degrees in public service fields along with leadership training.

Finalists are selected on the basis of the extent and quality of their community service and government involvement, leadership record, academic performance and writing and analytical skills, and suitability of their proposed program of study for a career in public service. Flood is scheduled to be interviewed by a regional Truman selection panel on March 23. Scholarship winners will be announced March 31 on the foundation’s website.

Flood, a double major in government & law and philosophy, would like to attend law school to pursue her interests in constitutional and human rights law, with the ultimate goal of becoming a judge.

Caitlin Flood ’12 worked with Jennifer Kelly, assistant professor of music, on a book project on unsung female composers.

Her experience at Lafayette has exemplified a liberal arts education, as she has been involved in law internships, the arts, research, and community service.

When other commitments prevented her from continuing her participation in the Concert Choir, Flood began research with Jennifer Kelly, assistant professor of music, on unsung 21st century female composers for a forthcoming book. She was invited to present her work at the annual American Choral Directors Association Conference and the Ninth Festival of Women Composers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

She spent a summer as an intern with the Midtown Community Court, part of New York’s Center for Court Innovation. The court issues community service sentences for quality-of-life offenses, such as prostitution, illegal vending, graffiti, shoplifting, and vandalism.

Her main project was collecting data on how many veterans come through the court system. Research shows that veterans are often susceptible to post-traumatic stress syndrome, substance abuse, and homelessness, which can all lead to criminal activity. Flood created a veteran assessment which will help paint a clearer picture of veterans in MCC and the services these veterans need.

Flood also served as a summer intern with Gerry Kavanaugh ’76, founder and CEO of DCS Online Communications in Washington, D.C. The firm provides online services to members of Congress, political candidates, and advocacy campaigns.

Flood is very active in the Lafayette and Easton communities. She served as president of Alternative School Break, coordinator for Landis Community Outreach Center’s Kids in the Community Program, a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club of Easton, a student leadership intern for the Lafayette Leadership Institute, and a committee member for Lafapalooza, the College’s annual day of service.

She has received Lafayette’s Eugene P. Chase Phi Beta Kappa Prize, which is awarded to a sophomore who has demonstrated scholarship as a first-year student, and the College’s Aaron O. Hoff Volunteer of the Year award, which is given to a student who has selflessly made exceptional contributions to society through volunteer work.

For information on applying for scholarships and fellowships, contact Julia A. Goldberg, associate dean of the College, at x5521 or email.