DAN ORZECHOWSKI
Staff Writer
Each year the Lanford Prize is given to a member of the graduating class who has displayed all-around achievement while representing Fredonia’s values. Sarah Rose Chamberlain has been named this year’s recipient of the prize from the Oscar and Esther Lanford Endowment of the Fredonia College Foundation.
Chamberlain’s leadership roles on campus and in the community are extensive, including:
- President, Engineering and Physics Society
- Vice President, Math Club
- Tutor, Learning Center
- Instructor, Aerobic Center
- Participant, Fredonia Fall Sweep
- Participant, Mini Maker Faire
- Member, Honor Society
- Member, Golden Key International Honour Society
- Member, Sigma Pi Sigma
- Member, Pi Mu Epsilon
Chamberlain is a dual major in applied math and theoretical physics and works as an instructor at the aerobics center and as a tutor. And yet somehow she still has enough time to breathe. Chamberlain uses her gig as an aerobics instructor as a source of stress relief.
“I enjoy having students come [to the aerobics center] and being able to give them the opportunity to forget all of their stress like I do,” Chamberlain said.
The Grand Island, New York native recognized her passion for math back in her junior year of high school when she first discovered trigonometry. By senior year, Chamberlain found herself taking AP classes and eventually reached 10th in her class.
When it came time to deciding which college to attend, Chamberlain had narrowed her choices down to Geneseo and Fredonia.
To help her with her decision, she spoke to the math department chairs of both schools.
“The math chair at Fredonia sat with me for an hour. He talked to me about anything and everything. Things like playing the flute in high school, things that didn’t even relate to math. I don’t even think he talked to me about math once,” explained Chamberlain.
She believes that moment spoke for Fredonia’s faculty. “I think that moment was the beacon that told me to come to Fredonia,” Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain has applied to graduate school, but has not yet made a decision as to where. Depending on her route, she will either study biophysics or medical physics.
The Lanford Prize will be presented to Chamberlain at Fredonia’s Commencement on May 13.