Click here to download a high-resolution photograph of Amber Wallin.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt senior Amber Wallin is one of 20
undergraduates chosen for USA Today’s 2004 All-USA College Academic
Team in recognition of their use of their academic skills in creative
ways.
First team members were selected from 604 nominees by educational
professionals in a two-step judging process. The selected
undergraduates have a combined average grade-point-average of 3.89 and
have distinguished themselves through community service, outstanding
research, entrepreneurship or through other leadership roles.
Wallin, an elementary and special education major from Picayune, Miss.,
was recognized for launching drives to furnish clothes and money for
children she met during a service-learning trip to South Africa last
summer. She traveled to South Africa to combat the exploitation of
wildlife by working at an animal rehabilitation center and to address
the issues of poverty and HIV/AIDS in the townships surrounding Cape
Town.
While maintaining a 3.7 GPA, she pursues an intensive volunteer and
extracurricular agenda. She is director of Vanderbilt’s Pencil
Project, which mentors and tutors more than 500 local youth. She
coordinated dance classes for inner city girls and brought tutoring
services to under-served Latino populations. She also is a member of
Vanderbilt’s non-competing equestrian team and head resident adviser
for Memorial Hall.
During her time at Vanderbilt, she has served as a Junior Achievement
Ambassador and as co-leader of an Alternative Spring Break trip to a
Cherokee reservation. She spent a summer teaching English to children
in Spain. Her career goal is to become a school superintendent and
policy maker.
"My family taught me the importance of giving back to my
community, and we have several generations of teachers, dating back to
my great-grandfather," she said in an earlier interview.
This is just one of many honors for the Vanderbilt senior. She received
an Ingram Scholarship for her academic excellence and commitment to
service. She recently was named a Truman Scholar for her interest in
educational policy and was featured in Glamour magazine as one of its
top Ten College Women of the Year.
Media contact: Elizabeth Latt, 615-322-NEWS
elizabeth.p.latt@vanderbilt.edu