Rebecca Holstein, Undergraduate Senior Spotlight

Rebecca Holstein was recently awarded the John E. Perry Undergraduate prize. The award is given on Commencement Day to an outstanding senior who exemplifies the fine ideals of John E. Perry. Consideration is given to enthusiastic participation in student life and in the Ithaca community, commitment to the engineering profession, and academic achievement.

Why did you choose Cornell?
There are many things that drew me to Cornell, but the one thing that stood out is the engineering project teams. Project teams give students a unique opportunity to work with a diverse group of students across all colleges on challenges that excite them.

Tell us about why you chose environmental engineering: I chose environmental engineering because it gave me the opportunity to gain valuable analytical skills while receiving a strong environmental background that I could apply to any career of mine in the future. 

Advice for undergrads: You are the captain of your ship. Never be afraid to do something different than the rest of your classmates. Advocate for yourself and take classes that not only align with your goals, but captivate you along the way. 

What hobbies do you have in your spare time? During my spare time throughout the past four years I loved to take advantage of the beautiful state parks in the area. Whether it be hiking, camping, boating, kayaking, waterskiing, etc., there was never a dull moment in Ithaca. 

Plans after graduation: Trade Structuring at Goldman Sachs in New York City

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years I hope to be exploring the interface between finance and environmental engineering more in depth.