Laura E. Hastings, of East Bridgewater, Mass., was honored with the Bellarmine Medal at Fairfield University's 58th Commencement Ceremony. The medal is awarded to the senior with the highest four-year academic average. Hastings, who earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in computer science, graduated with a 4.0 average in her major and a 3.98 average overall.

Despite her academic success - she was named to the Dean's List for every semester she attended Fairfield - Hastings was surprised when she learned that she would be receiving the medal. "I worked hard during my four years at Fairfield, and I was honored to be recognized for this."

Her many other honors included being inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, which is for students who complete most of their course work in the liberal studies curriculum, and the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society.

Although she chose Fairfield because of its strong reputation, and the liberal arts education it offers, there was something else that attracted her. "I felt that Fairfield offered a comforting atmosphere where I could meet new people and continue to grow through my education... I also enjoyed being able to take (core) classes that I may not have been exposed to previously and I think this aspect of Fairfield is one that will definitely benefit me in the future."

Her classroom lessons at Fairfield were complemented by internships with both the John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston, Mass., and the Amica Mutual Insurance Company in Lincoln, R.I. She will soon begin working as an analyst for Infinata, a Massachusetts company that provides information solutions and marketing analytics to the global financial service, life science, and high-tech industries. "My immediate career goals are to learn as much as possible in order to increase my knowledge of the business world and also, to use my education from Fairfield to bring fresh ideas and views to the company."

Posted On: 06-11-2008 10:06 AM

Volume: 40 Number: 283