Thomas Bennett, Class of 2006

Scholarship Recipient

With a double major in economics and Spanish, Thomas Bennett '06 plans to work in international finance after graduation.

"With the advent of globalization, you can't just focus on the American market," says Bennett. "The next frontier is international markets and I want to be part of that."

The Baltimore native, who has spent a semester in Spain , says studying abroad was a "life-changing experience. "To meet so many wonderful people and exchange stories through country and culture lines, I learned so much."

Bennett is a member of the varsity men's track and field team, specializing in the long and triple jumps and 100-meter dash.

"Being a student-athlete can be stressful," he says. "People think it's easy for athletes, but we're in the classroom just like everyone else. Plus we have practice and weight lifting as well as trying to squeeze in a social life so we can be part of the campus community."

A member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Bennett also is involved in the National Society of Black Engineers, Brothers and Sisters Empowered, and the Fellowship of Christians at Bucknell. When home, he plays drums in a gospel choir.

A recipient of the John T. Judd Scholarship, Bennett says without that scholarship he likely would not be at Bucknell. "To attend such a prestigious university is a blessing. I've learned academically and I've learned about myself. The experiences here are definitely preparing me for the real world."