Scholars in the News
Reshma Tharani, 21, is part of a new breed of community college student
Benjamin Cote
“Ethnic and international conflicts are in substance legal problems, which demand legal solutions. Military means will not solve the problem.”
- Program: 2008 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Ann Arbor, MI
- Hometown: Scarborough, ME
- Age: 27
- Four-year College or University: Georgetown University
- Graduate School: University of Michigan
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Lawyer / Legal Scholar, Nonprofits, Politics and Diplomacy
- Other Interests: Church / Religious Organization, Foreign Languages / International Study, Greek Organization (Fraternity / Sorority), Honor Society, International Relations / NGOs, Leadership Development, Mathematics, Performing Arts / Theatre, Religion, Sports, Student Government, Volunteer Work, Writing / Journalism
Biography
PROFILE: Benjamin Cote is determined to work towards world peace. A Jack Kent Cooke Scholar since 2003, he initially focused on economics, but after becoming involved in issues such as reducing violence against women, he came to realize he is more an activist than an academic.
Benjamin credits his study of the conflict in Northern Ireland as the catalyst that led to his commitment to reducing violence. He worked for the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Ireland, where he directed a conference on civil rights for 100 secondary school students to meet civil rights activists including Nobel Laureate John Hume. He spent the last year working for a peace building organization in Sri Lanka.
INSPIRATION: “I have found that being a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar is a privilege, but that it also carries with it a continued challenge of living up to the ambition, diligence and achievement of Mr. Cooke himself and the other scholars in their amazing work.”
ASPIRATION: Benjamin plans to pursue a law degree, with a focus on negotiation. Subsequently, he intends to practice law focusing on alternative dispute resolution, and to re-enter public service and to assist with the peace processes in Sri Lanka and around the world.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Benjamin is the founder of GU Men Advocating Relationship Responsibility (GUMARR), a men’s organization dedicated to preventing sexual assault at Georgetown University. In addition, he took part in an initiative called FRIENDS to help reduce the risks of student alcohol use.
ACCOLADES: Benjamin is the recipient of the Hank B. Coakley Graduation Medal, the highest graduation award at Georgetown College. In addition, he is a Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Fellow and a William J. Clinton Scholar.
INTERESTING FACT: Benjamin acted in a Sri Lankan soap opera.
Other Scholars Like Benjamin
Jolyn Belk
Graduate Scholar
University of Wyoming
Rosita Najmi
Graduate Scholar
Harvard University
Hadi Gharabaghi
Graduate Scholar
New York University
Charlene Gomez
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of California-Los Angeles