14 Senior Class Marshals Named

Fourteen members of the Class of 2017 were selected as Senior Class Marshals following last week’s elections, concluding a nearly-three week selection process.

An email sent out to the senior class Friday afternoon named the winners of the elections for First, Second, and Class Program Marshals, as well as the students who were appointed as Class Gift Marshals through an application and interview process.

Senior Class Committee appointees, who will plan class events leading up to and during Commencement week in late May, were notified by organizers from the Harvard Alumni Association earlier in the day Friday and briefed on the responsibilities of the positions.

Riya N. Patel ’17, who was named First Marshal, received a phone call around mid-day on Friday telling her of her win.

“I was in shock, it was a little bit of disbelief but mainly just being really excited,” Patel said. “It was really humbling knowing that my classmates made the effort to vote for me.”

Thirty-three seniors put their names forward for eight total spots that were filled by this week’s double round of elections. The first vote conducted last Monday narrowed the pool to 16 candidates, and the final eight were selected by another vote on Wednesday.

Six senior gift marshals who were not elected were also announced Friday. They are responsible for coordinating class gift efforts, both this year and post-graduation.

Katie F.G. Wu ’17, who was elected Second Marshal, said she was excited to find out that she won the position and looks forward to ensuring seniors have a fulfilling final year.

“So much of the time senior year can feel like it’s all about the next step, but hopefully my time on Senior Class Committee will be a time where we can actually enjoy being in senior year. I want the year to be about having a great time together, for reflection, reconnecting with old friends, and really having a great, full year,” Wu said.

Those who placed between third and eighth on Wednesday’s second round ballot were elected as Class Program Marshals.

Though not elected, gift marshals go through a two-round interview process that lasts for two and a half weeks, according to the Harvard Alumni Association website.

Samuel C. Becker ’17, one of this year’s gift marshals, said that, after attending interest meetings, he entered the process because he wanted to give back to the University.

“I was very passionate about giving back to Harvard,” Becker said. “I wanted to help the senior class see the importance of giving back to the school that has given us so much.”

The remaining positions on the Senior Class Committee’s executive committee will be filled in the next few weeks, with applications for house representatives, class secretary, class treasurer, and media team members due Oct. 2.

Some of Friday’s successful candidates expressed excitement at their wins and highlighted their desire to make senior year as memorable as possible.

Rohan Pidaparti ’17 said he looks forward to working with his committee to build camaraderie within the class during his time as Class Program Marshal.

“I think we have a great team assembled,” Pidaparti said. “I’m looking forward to making sure senior year ends with a bang and not a whimper.”

The full list of Class Marshals announced Friday is below:

First Marshal:

Riya N. Patel ’17

Second Marshal:

Katie F.G. Wu ’17

Class Gift Marshals:

Samuel C. Becker ’17

Taylor Q. Carol ’17

Cecilia Laguarda ’17

Liv F. Novick ’17

Rebecca J. Ramos ’17

Natalie E. Torres ’17

Class Program Marshals:

Victoria H. Jones ’17

Avni Nahar ’17

Hamna M. Nazir ’17

Rohan Pidaparti ’17

Jarrod R. Wetzel-Brown ’17

Angela Wu ’17

—Staff writer Graham W. Bishai can be reached at graham.bishai@thecrimson.com.