Dublin High School Alum Hania Guiagoussou on Combining Computer + Political Science at Sciences Po + Columbia
DUBLIN, CA–A few years ago we profiled Hania Guiagoussou after she was awarded Oracle Duke’s Choice Award for her Java-based water saver project. Fast forward to 2018 and Hania has just completed her first year of college at Sciences Po Reims (France) where she started a dual degree Sciences Po / Columbia University program, with the unique combination of political science and computer science. We recently spoke with Hania as part our popular Life in College series of articles (over 80 Dublin High School alum have been profiled).
OneDublin.org: How did you decide on a joint degree program?
Hania Guiagoussou: “After the Canadian election, when I was doing a lot of research on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, I found out that his father [and former Canadian Prime Minister] Pierre Trudeau went to Sciences Po. I discovered that there were Sciences Po alumni from all over the world including most of the French Presidents. I became super interested in Science Po when I learned the school has joint programs with Berkeley, UBC and Columbia.
“I had to work really hard to convince my parents about how cool and enriching it would be to spend two years in France, improving my French and learning a new culture, and then coming back to New York for Columbia. After getting into the school my parents said yes!”
OneDublin.org: Your combination of majors is really cool and unique. What led you in that direction?
Life at UC Berkeley: Dublin High School’s Lily Hu Turns Passion for Math into Data Science + Economics
BERKELEY, CA—Dublin High Class of 2017 graduate Xuenan Lily Hu is a rising sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley, double majoring in Data Science and Economics.
“A lot of people think that Data Science is a combination of computer science and statistics,” Lily says. “While it does encompass these two studies, Data Science is a discipline of its own. It combines skills outside of these two spheres, making it applicable in diverse fields.”
“At Berkeley, we can take data intensive courses in subjects ranging from social welfare to business analytics,” she adds. “Students go on to become machine learning engineers, artificial intelligence engineers, business analysts, and much more.”
This past week, I caught up with Lily to learn more about her experiences at UC Berkeley so far, as well as reflect on some of her internship experiences, favorite classes, and memorable moments as a Dublin High Gael.
Neha Harpanhalli: Data Science will be introduced as a new major at UC Berkeley this fall. How did you become interested in this field of study? Read more…
DUBLIN, CA–Dublin High School Class of 2017 graduate Leesa Ko is a second-year student pursuing a Dual BA between Columbia University and the Paris Institute of Political Studies, also known as Sciences Po. She’s also the latest profile in our popular Life in College Series.
Leesa first learned about the Dual BA program in her sophomore year of high school, when her father received a flyer in the mail for an informational session and encouraged her to attend. Leesa will be spending two years studying social sciences at the Le Havre campus of Sciences Po, which has a focus on European and Asian studies. She will then attend Columbia University in the City of New York for her final two years of undergraduate studies.
During her time at Dublin High School, Leesa served as the Student Representative to the Board of Trustees for two years. She also participated in the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, a language immersion program sponsored by the U.S. State Department, through which she spent a summer studying Arabic in Morocco and immersing herself in the country’s culture.
I recently connected with Leesa to learn more about her unique college experience. Here, she shares some of the challenges she has faced while studying abroad, as well as important advice for Dublin High students looking toward college.
Neha Harpanhalli: Sciences Po has seven undergraduate regional campuses in France: Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers, and Reims. Why did you choose to study at the Le Havre campus? Read more…
CAMBRIDGE, MA–Dublin High School InvenTeam students recently spent four days of their summer break in Cambridge at Lemelson-MIT Eurekafest 2018 demonstrating their SpORT (Special Olympics Robotic Thrower) prototype. The SpORT machine has been developed to help handicapped students across the Tri-Valley participate in modified basketball and soccer. The Lemelson-MIT Program celebrates outstanding inventors and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. Dublin High School was selected last year to participate in Eurekafest, and raised thousands of dollars to develop their prototype machine and make the trip to MIT.
Dublin High School InvenTeam in Cambridge, MA
The trip to Cambridge not only included presenting the SpORT prototype along with fifteen InvenTeams from around the country, but also touring the MIT Museum, meeting with engineers and scientists, sightseeing in Boston and even visiting Google’s Cambridge office. The InventTeam students from across the country, brought together by Eurekafest 2018, shared their passion for invention and discovery by showcasing their projects. Read more…
DUBLIN, CA–In just a few weeks graduated high school students across the country will be leaving home and heading off to college. Over 80 Dublin High School alumni have shared their college stories in our popular Life in College series (check them all out here!). A common theme is advice on how they transitioned from high school to college-level academics. Below is a sampling of excerpts from their Life in College stories, focused on the transition from high school to college.
“My planner definitely helped me. Without my planner I would have forgotten some of the things I was supposed to do, a planner helped me stay organized. Taking AP classes at Dublin High School really helped prepare me for college-level classes. I especially recommend AP Bio, AP Chem and AP Calc if you are planning to pursue biology in college. My first year biology class was my AP class from high school in a nutshell, with perhaps a little more detail. When you’ve already seen the material once it really helps prepare you.” – Emily Bryant – Life as Biology Major at UC Irvine
“On a nightly basis the homework is less than high school but the readings are a lot more. My grades generally come down to a few ten-page papers rather than nightly homework assignments, quizzes and tests. The courses I’m taking are built around papers because it allows the professor to better gauge our understanding versus just knowing information and dates. College level courses have really improved my writing, that’s the largest thing I’ve gained.” – Nick Padnos – Life at Tulane University
DUBLIN, CA–Dublin High School Class of 2017 graduate Loic Alini is a rising sophomore at the University of Southern California (USC) and our latest Life in College Series profile. Loic, who is currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, shares his thoughts on the transition from Dublin High School to studying engineering at the college level.
OneDublin.org: How did you choose USC?
Loic Alini: “As a senior in high school I remember agonizing over where I would spend the next four years of my life. I thought that once the long wait to find out where I was accepted was over, it would be smooth sailing. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I wanted to travel far from California so I could immerse myself culturally and better understand the nation I live in. But I also wanted to stay close to home so I could be near my family in case I needed them. I eventually chose to stay in California because I did not want to deal with frigid East Coast winters, and I wanted to go to a school that had strong ties to the tech industry that dominates where we live (especially as an engineering major).
“I had applied to USC because my dad suggested I should consider it, and I knew it had a good reputation as a school. But I fell in love when I got to visit for an overnight program after they accepted me. While I was there, I instantly fell in love with the campus and how sociable the people were. That along with its location in sunny Southern California, I was sold!”
OneDublin.org: How was your transition to college? Read more…
Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre Brings Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” to the Bankhead Theater
LIVERMORE, CA–Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid opens on July 21, 2018 and runs July 21, 28 & August 4 at 8:00 pm and July 22, 29 and August 4 and 5 at 2:00 pm at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore.
Those with expectations of seeing a live version of their favorite movie will be delighted, plus they will get the added bonus of hearing a few additional new songs. Just like in the Broadway version of the show many of the characters are wearing Heelys to help them “swim under the sea” and several of them will even fly!
Photo credit: Josh Milbourne
DUBLIN, CA–As a part of its Summer Reading Road Trip, the Scholastic bus made a stop at the Dublin Public Library on Tuesday, July 3rd. According to its website, Scholastic “is partnering with bookstores and libraries in communities nationwide, hosting reading festivals for families with kids ages 0-12.” Scholastic is planning stops across the country including multiple locations in the west, midwest, southwest, southeast, and northeast.
The pop-up reading festival featured crafts, activities, and photo opportunities with beloved characters Clifford the Big Red Dog, Geronimo Stilton, and Dog Man. Authors Sandra Markle, Tim McCanna, and Aron Nels Steinke were also present to autograph copies of their books and chat with attendees. The event was hosted by the Dublin Public Library and sponsored by Towne Center Books in downtown Pleasanton.
Here are photos from the event (additional reporting and photos by Dublin High School Student Reporter: Neha Harpanhalli): Read more…
ORLANDO, FL–As part of our ongoing coverage of the grand opening of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World, we had a chance to talk to Walt Disney Imagineering Graphic Designer Alexis Cummins on what it was like to work on a Disney Parks expansion project.
Alexis Cummins, Walt Disney Imagineering
OneDublin.org: What was your path to Walt Disney Imagineering?
Alexis Cummins: “As a kid I was always inspired by Imagineering, had a very active imagination and desired to work at Disney. I ultimately landed an internship through Walt Disney Imagineering and have had the privilege to work on the Toy Story Land project.”
OneDublin.org: What role does graphic design play in the multi-disciplinary effort to bring something like Toy Story Land to life? Read more…
ORLANDO, FL–While officially launching this Saturday, Disney quietly launched their new Play Disney Parks app (Android, iOS) in time for the Toy Story Land Press Preview event that kicked off earlier today. We had a chance to talk to two of the Disney execs behind the effort and learn more about what Disney is trying to do in the age of smartphones and gaming.
OneDublin.org: Given how glued folks are to their smartphones, will the new Play Disney Parks app help draw eyes back into the real world? Read more…
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