Undergraduate President’s Report – John Zacharias ’11
Ivy has been an incredible place full of amazing people for 132 years, and I am happy to say that the Club is still as strong as ever. It is a vibrant environment which promotes the growth of the individual by providing a community of talented and friendly peers. Walking in to the dining room, one can find a Rhodes Scholar, an Olympic gold medalist speed skater, the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Princetonian, the President of Business Today, an All-American squash player and the winners of the Tiger Launch entrepreneurship competition, only to name a few of the members in a room with tables full of the University’s best artists, athletes, and students. It is hard to imagine a more dynamic and engaging group of people.
On a personal note, it has been a privilege and an honor to serve as the Undergraduate President for the past year. It has been a formative part of my Princeton experience, and I feel fortunate to have been given such an enjoyable responsibility. For sharing that responsibility and making it enjoyable, I would like to thank and congratulate the outstanding officer corps of Kate Adamson, Spencer Zakarin, Stephanie Evans, Scott Baxter, and Tom Gasparini.
Lastly, on behalf of all the undergraduates, I would like to extend our gratitude to the alumni who enable Ivy to continue to shape the lives of its members. In just two short years, Ivy provides a lifetime’s worth of memories and friendships, and we thank you for making that possible.
Incoming President’s Report – Caroline Shifke ’12
After joining the club last spring, I soon learned what everyone reading this newsletter undoubtedly knows so wel —that Ivy is indeed much more than a building where students come to get their meals. Ivy is a tradition, a culture in and of itself, a community that instills its members with values and a sense of camaraderie that extends well beyond the few years we spend together at Princeton. When someone suggested that I run for president, I was excited and intrigued by the prospect. I saw becoming Ivy’s undergraduate president as a unique opportunity to help carry on and maintain the legacy and traditions of a place I love so much. After discussing the realities of the position with my brother, Jonathan (Undergraduate President ’10), I decided that I would enjoy taking on the challenges and responsibilities that accompany helping steer the Ivy Club ship.
As president, there are a few things in particular that I look forward to working with my fellow officers to achieve in the year ahead. We all believe that the Club’s membership is an important part of what makes it such a remarkable institution. In that vein, I first hope to help the senior class have an amazing and memorable final semester as undergraduates. In the longer run, I am excited to work towards securing another strong bicker class next spring.
Lastly, I hope to do my part in keeping Ivy the special, welcoming home that it is for so many of us by helping preserve the club’s traditions and values. The officer corps and I are excited about the year ahead of us and look forward to meeting and visiting with those of you who are able to return for Alumni Night.