Buzz Cut Video Finalists

Meet Ashima Singal & Amy Hamblin

Stats:
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois (Ashima) and Felton, California (Amy)
University: Northwestern University
Graduation Year: 2007
Major: Journalism and Political Science

Buzz Cuts Video: The premise was to tell the story of an American student who had malaria in order to personalize this deadly disease that mostly afflicts those in the developing world.

Ashima Quote: "I think planning for the tournament was a wonderful opportunity to learn how to organize students around global health issues. The day of the event was perfect; we raised $1200 to fight malaria, had a turnout of more than 50 Chicago students, and wonderful 70 degree, sunny weather!"

Amy Quote: "I think our event taught me how to build a coalition of support that spans different schools, ages and geography. I found pockets of support in entirely unexpected places!"

Meet Alison Case

Stats:
Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
University: Depauw University (in Greencastle, IN)
Graduation Year: 2010
Major: Biology

Buzz Cuts Video: My video shows the results of our Knitting for Nets project.  We knit scarves and sold them on campus for $10 each--the price of one insecticide treated net! we raised $1905.35 total! 

Quote: "I think the experience was awesome!  I learned a lot about networking, and how important it is to be organized!!  I got to meet a lot of new people especially outside of campus within Greencastle.  I would definitely encourage students to reach out to their communities because they are very eager to help and a great resource!  I got to hear a lot of great stories from the women in our knitting circles at the nursing home and senior center too :)."

Meet Emily Renzelli

Stats:
Hometown: Bridgeport, West Virginia
University: West Virginia University (Go Eers!)
Graduation Year: 2008
Major: Political Science and Philosophy

Buzz Cuts Video: WVU's Bite Back campaign is a three stage malaria fund raiser.  In this video, you'll get to see footage of each stage--believing, understanding and giving. Enjoy!

Quote: "I think this campaign was A LOT of fun.  I met new friends and made money to send nets to Africa.  What could be better?" 

Meet Cymone Bedford

Stats:
Hometown: Bronx, New York
University: Wells College
Graduation Year: 2010
Major: Human Rights and Development, A Sociological and Political Perspective (Individualized Major)

Buzz Cuts Video: My film is a brief  introduction to the malaria issue in Africa with a brief overview of what college students can do to positively help in a simple, creative way- host a Malaria Awareness Carnival on their campus!

Quote: "I think this experience gave me valuable experience with coalition building, sponsor letter writing, event organizing, and advertising.  It was so challenging, but I had a blast pulling off this event!"

Meet Ilham Hassan

Stats:
Hometown:  Orange County, California
University:  University of Southern California (USC)
Graduation year:  2008
Major: biological sciences, B.S.
 
Buzz Cuts Video: The video illustrates that one can create an event (such as a fashion show) and reinvent it by using it as a platform to raise awareness about a global health catastrophe, like malaria.

Quote" "I think the event was a great experience!  I had an adrenal rush the entire time.  Of course, taking on issues like malaria is stressful, but it's a small price to pay when it comes to raising malaria awareness and raising money for bed nets. Ultimately, I have learned a great deal from this project and it was loads of fun. One of the things that I found is that many people, especially collegians, are willing to work hard and volunteer to make a positive impact on our society and the world at large.  It was refreshing to see students interested in making the world a better place."

Meet Katie Boyce-Jacino & Toni Zosherafatain

Katie Stats:
Hometown: Titusville, NJ
University: Wesleyan University
Graduation Year: 2010
Major: History, and maybe Astronomy

Toni Stats:
Hometown: Reading, MA
University:  Wesleyan University
Year of graduation: 2010
Major:  Government and International Relations

Buzz Cuts Video: The video is a recap of our week-long project; it puts every small event we held or conversation we had into a bigger picture of the whole event. We also made it in the hope that it could inspire other college students to put on a similar campaign.

Katie Quote: "I think it was an amazing experience for me! Toni Zosherafatain and I used the Buzzcuts project to jumpstart our fledgling AID chapter. It drew a lot of interest, for the group and for the cause specifically. We worked with an incredible group of people at AID, at Wes, and at the eleven other schools. We loved doing it so much that as soon as we finished Buzzkill we were already planning another huge event like it."

Toni Quote: "I think My favorite part of the BuzzCuts campaign is difficult to select since I enjoyed every aspect of what I did for the campaign.  Spreading awareness about Malaria was an important part since little seems to be known about Malaria's devastating impact on economic development or the fact that it kills millions each year. I enjoyed fundraising to buy bednets since that turned out to be a successful part of our campaign, and it felt good to know that every cent was going towards saving lives, which was the essence of why I wanted to participate in BuzzCuts.  As a whole, I loved everything about BuzzCuts and I encourage everyone to get involved in the fight against Malaria, you can truly make a difference!"

Meet Molly McGravey

Stats:
Hometown: Orchard Park NY
University: Allegheny College
Graduation Year: 2008
Major: English

Buzz Cuts Video: 5k to Fight Malaria

Quote: "I think knowing that we did something to unite the campus and fight against Malaria was the best part. We did our part together!"

Meet Leslie Schwietz

Stats:Hometown:  Omaha, Nebraska
University: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Year of graduation:  2010
Major: (N/A) Medical student

Buzz Cuts Video:  For the video, we summed up the results of our fundraiser and then focused on our final event where we announced the "winners" and then pulled out the hair clippers for our Buzz Cuts!  We shaved two medical students' heads and our biochem professor's beard, which he had had for over ten years, into handlebars! 

Quote: "I think We were really surprised and pleased with how willing UNMC students and professors were to get shaved for this cause."

Meet Cecelia McDonald

Stats:
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
University: Boston College
Year of Graduation: 2010
Major: Economics

Buzz Cuts Video: Even normal, everyday, college-student weekend activities can help fight Malaria!

Quote: "This experience was really fun, and really informative.  If I don't look like I was having fun dressed up in that poofy gown, then I didn't do my job.  But really, I learned so much about event planning at my school, which is a valuable skill you can use for any club in any situation.  You meet so many people who can help you, deans, administrators, club presidents... after all, everybody's interested in saving children's lives.  It was really fun, too, in a stressful way- meaning, I'll always look back on it as being fun, although it was stressful at the time.  You kind of thrive for awhile on the adrenaline of being put in a situation where you have to sink or swim- in the end, you swim, but it's the not knowing all the time that makes it exciting."