Three Seniors Honored By Alumni Association

(4/3/2007)

Each year the Tufts University Alumni Association seeks to honors twelve seniors who have risen above the rest. With such a daunting task ahead, the TUAA buckles down each spring to whittle the class of over 1100 students down to the most deserving twelve. It takes a special breed of student to raise the attention of the alums as it is their desire to recognize those students who have led their university both in and out of the classroom.

Last spring, the Tufts Men?s Track & Field team was represented by senior, captain Trevor Williams who is now in his first year at Johns Hopkins Medical School. This was a proud moment for the program. However, following up William?s great feat was a trio of Men?s XC/Track & Field athletes. Seniors Mickey Ferri, Scott Merrick, and Fred Jones were all acknowledged for their impressive accomplishments as Tufts community members. Needless to say, it is an amazing honor for a program to be represented by one member; to have three members of the XC/Track & Field teams presented with this award is unparalleled.

Mickey Ferri, a triple major in computer science, quantitative economics, and mathematics was honored for his work in and out of the economics department. He was a Summer Scholar last year with his research into the choices made on NBC?s Deal or No Deal. This past weekend Mickey was the top 100m/200m runner for the team clocking in at 11.18 and 22.84 in his first outdoor meet of the season. Next fall Mickey will be starting work on his PhD in Economics at one of the top economic graduate schools in the country, the University of Chicago.

Also praised was NH native Scott Merrick. As a sophomore, Scott was elected to the New Hampshire State House of Representatives at the age of eighteen. Reelected this past year, he is currently serving in his 2nd term as a State Rep. He has worked to balance his responsibilities to congress, the classroom, and competition. Despite the intimidating task that would not have even been attempted by most student/athletes, Merrick proved worthy seeing a minimal dip in his GPA. Scott sincerely epitomizes the idea that one?s education occurs more outside the classroom than in.

Finally, the efforts of Fred Jones to strengthen the Tufts community, both locally and nationally, could not be overlooked by the Alumni Association. Jones, a nine-time All American and National Champion recently reset his own school records in the indoor LJ and TJ at this winter?s national championships. That being said, Jones is also the President of the Black Men?s Group on campus as well as Vice President of the Pan African Alliance. As a sophomore Jones interned for the Institute for Responsible Citizens in Washington DC, a position given to only 10 sophomores across the country. Currently, Jones has his eyes set on defending his outdoor triple jump crown and is in line for one of the Coro Fellowships. The Coro Fellowship is the most esteemed public service fellowship in the US. It grants any fellow automatic admission to five prestigious public service graduate schools.

The men?s XC/Track & Field program considers it a great honor to have three of its members recognized for their endeavors as representatives of Tufts University. Like the many that came before them and the multitude that will come after, Fred Jones, Mickey Ferri, and Scott Merrick are amongst the best that Tufts University or any school can produce. Their experiences with their fellow teammates and coaches helped guide their personal choices and decisions along the way. Each speaks highly of their decision to attend Tufts and become part of the team. They will truly leave the program and university a changed place due to their presence. Resetting the standard by which most scholar/athletes will be judged, we are all proud to call them teammate, captain, and friend.