Lovett O-Week:
Pass the Torch
Shelby McPherson
Advisor
Michael Armstrong
Advisor
RiEOL 2018: Stags of Glory
Hailing from Austin, Texas, the legendary Michael Armstrong took the Rice community by storm in August of 2012. With his never-failing wit and charm, Michael quickly became world-renowned as Lovett’s Question Master. Ever need a good Truth or Dare? Michael’s got just the perfect trick up his sleeve. In his free time, Michael enjoys taking embarrassing photos of his friends while simultaneously being one of the best friends you’ve ever had. His generosity, kindness, and sound advice never fail to bring a smile to your face. In two short years, Michael has become a trained EMT and Resident Health Associate. He also served as Lovett’s Intercollegiate Representative, fostering lasting friendships with the other lesser colleges. A Cognitive Science major and Pre-Med, this dedicated, strapping young lad will expertly guide you through your time at Rice. Watch out though! Michael’s also known the Most Gullible Lovetteer. You might even convince him gullible is written on the ceiling! While outside!
~Sarah Hernandez, Lovett ‘16
If you’re one of the lucky few to have Shelby McPherson as your O-Week advisor, buckle up because you’re in for a fantastic ride! And I don’t just say that because of her occasionally unconventional driving techniques (e.g. “Those stop signs don’t count!”), but because of her spunky personality and her contagious happiness. There’s never a dull moment with Shelby, whether she’s recounting tales of MTV’s latest work of TV gold, or explaining why bacon and maple syrup is the single greatest combination humanity has ever known. If you’re not a morning person, Shelby will even be able to convince you that waking up for events at 8 am can, in fact, be fun, despite everything your past experiences have taught you. She is also an active member of Lovett College government, an awesome Rice Health Advisor, and somehow makes time to double major in economics, history and minor in business, so if you want to get involved with just about anything, she’s a great resource to talk to. But have no fear! Between all of her involvements, and a mouthful of a degree, Shelby will never fail to make time for a friend. So thank your lucky stars, because there’s truly no one more qualified or excited to guide you through your O-Week experience, and you couldn’t ask for a better friend at Rice.
~Tommy Wilkinson, Wiess ‘15
Simpática: Because English synonyms for “nice” are conventional, and Sylvia is not! Sylvia is one-of-a-kind, and she will always be there to make you smile. She’ll study with you late at night, and be the ultimate best friend when you distract her from homework and divulge personal secrets.
Yelling: What’s that sound you hear? It’s Sylvia, of course, and she’s yelling your name from across the quad! Be sure to appreciate it, as it will probably be the most melodious, and musical sound you hear all day since Sylvia is a member of Rice’s all-female A Capella group, the Low Keys.
Laughing: When you hear it, you’ll know. Sylvia’s laugh is the best part of any conversation, though it always comes with her sassy sense of humor. Vivacious: Vibrant, lively, bubbly, and cheerful, Sylvia Omozee is probably going to bring excitement to your (otherwise boring) life at Lovett! Impeccably dressed, and sporting a never-ending smile, she’ll have you believing you can ace all your classes faster than Usain Bolt ran the 100 meters race!
Involved: Sylvia’s involved with (almost) everything. She’s a member of Baker College’s cabinet, competes with the speech and debate team, and performs in musicals and theatrical productions on campus. You’ll feel like a celebrity when walking around campus with her, that’s for sure.
All-Around Champion: An all-around awesome human being, you could say that Sylvia is sort of the all-around champion of Rice in the way that Gabby Douglas was the all-around champion for gymnastics at the Summer Olympics. Get excited because you just won the gold medal in these Lovett Olympics by getting Sylvia as your advisor!
~Nirali Desai, Lovett ‘16
At Rice, you will find any number of people who can listen, offer a fresh perspective, and deal life advice and personal anecdotes, but none of them ever seem to do it as well as Rahul Kothari. Although his official title at Lovett is Photographer-Historian-Greys-Anatomy-Binger-Pre-Med-Wizard-Guacamole-God-Cultural-Cuisine-Expert-and-Buzzfeed-Browser Extraordinaire, we usually just call him by his first name for the sake of simplicity. Rahul provides the perfect dose of balance to any social situation, like the universal yin to Rice’s yang. Need a guy to balance out the gender ratio of your all-girl Saturday night dinner group? Done. Want a buddy to go out on the town and explore the arts culture of Houston? He knows it all. Looking for a little bit of reason and order amidst the chaos of freshman suite 207/208? It’s a blessing Rahul’s in there. Rahul is incredibly dependable regardless of the situation, whether it be a last-minute need to capture the moment (ask Rahul about his love of photography and you’ve got a full day’s conversation awaiting you) or someone to watch a movie with. To make things even better, he’s wicked smart and has an admirable work ethic, as evident by his many afternoons spent at the Bioscience Research Collaborative in the oncology department, discovering therapeutic treatments for Chemo patients. Can it get any better? Believe it or not, it can. On top of all this, Rahul manages to work a second job introducing prospective students and their families to the many beautiful attractions and areas of campus that Rice has to offer. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he really does have it all. Talk to him about just anything, and you’re in for a great conversation.
~Alex Heath and Austin Benavides, Lovett ‘17
Sylvia Omozee
Co-Advisor
Rahul Kothari
O-Week Photographer
