Ladyane Lima
CUNY Baccalaureate Program – Economics Policy and Latin American Studies
B.A., June 2012, Magna Cum Laude
Financial Women’s Association Mentee
Thomas W. Smith Academic Fellowship
H. Richard & Estelle Davis Scholarship Recipient (2011 and 2012)
Dean’s List
Ladyane Lima is a student at Baruch College/CUNY Baccalaureate Program student and an FWA mentee.
While New York City has been her home for the past four years, Ladyane was born in Brazil and she grew up in Rio de Janeiro. While attending Maria Jose Imperial High School, she volunteered as a community development assistant in Morro Dona Marta, one of the poorest communities in Rio de Janeiro, and the experience had a profound impact on where she would focus her efforts in the future.
In 2005, she wrote an essay entitled “Rio: Cidade Maravilhosa” that focused on Rio de Janeiro’s natural beauty that received critical acclaim and was published in an anthology of high-school student essays entitled Coleção de Redações para o Rio de Janeiro.
In 2008, Ladyane moved to the United States to pursue her college education and, with guidance from two academic mentors from Baruch College, she designed her own major under the umbrella of Economics Policy and Latin American Studies so that her academic goal could be to understand the impact economic policies have on social problems in developing nations. In Spring of 2009, her academic work earned a place on the Dean’s List.
In 2010, she was awarded the Thomas W. Smith Academic Fellowship, a merit-based fellowship granted to students of exceptional talent from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program that allowed her to design her own major and take graduate-level courses. In addition, she was awarded the H. Richard & Stelle Davis Scholarship, one of the most prestigious scholarships for Baruch College students, for the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters.
As a result of hard work, engagement on campus and demonstrated initiative, she was invited to spend the summer of 2011 as an Operations Analyst at the top investment bank, Morgan Stanley, an experience that earned her an offer of full-time employment that will commence after she graduates.
Throughout her academic life, Ladyane has divided her time between classes, volunteering with CUNY Citizenship Project (a CUNY-wide project that assists immigrants), attending FWA events and workshops, as well as working part-time.
Thanks to the guidance of her academic mentors and FWA mentor, she has undertaken an undergraduate senior honors thesis so she can focus on economic policy and foreign affairs. Taking place over the course of one year, this intensive project for high achieving students from Baruch College will culminate in the submission of a substantial academic paper focusing on Brazil’s foreign policy during former President Lula’s eight-year administration that will be completed by end of April.
It has been a special honor for Ladyane to have Natalia Ruderman as her FWA mentor and friend.
“Natalia is not only supportive but challenges me on many levels. Our relationship is very collaborative and I will always be thankful for the knowledge she has shared with me. I truly value our relationship and hope to have the benefit of her guidance for a long time to come.”
In June 2012, Ladyane will graduate Magna Cum Laude.
Jasmine Mangum
Murry Bergtraum High School (MBHS) for Business Carrers
Senior, major Legal Studies
Ranked 88 of 508 of senior graduating class, top 15%
Financial Women’s Association Mentee
Since Junior year, employed by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Jasmine is actively involved in her school’s community; she has participated in MBHS Student Government and in her Legal Studies Academy and currently holds Presidential positions in both of these organizations. She has been an FWA mentee since sophomore year.
A highlight of her high school career was when she served on the Moot Court and Mock Trial Debate teams during her Freshman and Sophomore Year. Jasmine has been in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program since her Freshmen year and has been honored as Mentor and Mentee of the Year. She began taking Syracuse University Project Advance courses at MBHS her junior and senior in American History, Biology, and English and will start college with 20 credits. She also was given the opportunity to take an accredited college Summer Program at Boston University in July 2012.
During her Freshman year (2008) she spent her spring break in Beijing, Xian and Shanghai learning about the Chinese culture and the language barriers between Mandarin and Cantonese. This experience opened her eyes and has made her want to study abroad.
In college she plans to take on a double major in Political Science & Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She plans to further her education by attending Law School.
In addition to her school activities, Jasmine has been a part of her church’s community service called “The Outreach Program” since the 7th grade.
“When my family can’t give me all the personal time in the world that I want, Linda is the next best person I can turn to and she has always been there. Having my mentor be there not only when I need her but when I want her makes our relationship both unique and special. The fact that Linda is always keeping me rooted and grounded has made all the difference in the world to me.”
