Scholar Performance
Tessa was featured with her chamber group on the national radio program 'From the Top'.
Scholars in the News
Reshma Tharani, 21, is part of a new breed of community college student
Alonit Cohen
“My greatest joy came from offering these Serbian teens a space to voice their concerns and passions, and to discover that they too carry weight in society.”
- Program: 2008 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Bailey, CO
- Hometown: Boulder, CO
- Age: 25
- Four-year College or University: American University
- Graduate School: University of Denver
- Academic/Career Pursuits: International NGO/Relations, Languages, Lawyer / Legal Scholar, Liberal Arts, Media / Communications / Marketing, Politics and Diplomacy, Public Policy
- Other Interests: Church / Religious Organization, Foreign Languages / International Study, International Economic Development, International Relations / NGOs, Languages, Performing Arts / Theatre, Politics and Diplomacy, Public Policy, Volunteer Work
Biography
PROFILE: As a dual citizen of the US and Israel, Alonit Cohen has spent her life learning about the conflicts of the Middle East. “This is what led me to study international relations and peace and conflict resolution in college; I wanted to be part of the solution.” Focusing on peaceful solutions led Alonit to the Balkans to study the effects of successful negotiations.
She has been living and teaching there for three years. Teaching children in a society with different morals and ideals, confronted by Milosevic rallies and the burning of an American embassy, Alonit has kept herself going by constantly reminding herself that peace can be taught. Along the way, she has added three Balkan dialects to her own negotiating vocabulary. In addition to Hebrew and Serbian, she now speaks Croatian, Montenegrin, and Bosnian.
INSPIRATION: When Alonit was young, her mother—the family’s sole provider—suffered a traumatic brain injury. “Our community supported us and helped us through the difficult times, imprinting upon me the value of taking care of one another.” That experience, combined with seeing the effects of the intifada in Tel Aviv, created a desire to support communities by studying law and peaceful resolution.
ASPIRATION: Alonit plans to become an international environmental negotiator.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: In addition to instructing adults in business, Alonit teaches English to four classes of children. “I tease them that I am training them to be the diplomats of the future. But in essence, I am trying to do just that—believing that if young children learn the skills of peace, then as adults, they may better understand the concept of sharing ideas, land, and resources.”
ACCOLADES: Alonit received the Chancellor Scholarship from University of Denver and was awarded Pacesetter of the Year by the Boulder Daily Camera. She also received the Citizen Leader’s Award from the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program.
INTERESTING FACT: Alonit has been a Girl Scout camp counselor for seven years.
Other Scholars Like Alonit
Barbara Ault
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Haydee Cuza
Graduate Scholar
University of California, Los Angeles
Natacha Chough
Graduate Scholar
University of Michigan
Corinna Bockstruck
College Scholar
Westmont College