Lovett O-Week:
Pass the Torch
Myrna Garza
Advisor
Brett Virgin-Downey
Advisor
Stag White: The Flying Toaster
During a time of bleak despair in the streets of St. Louis, Missoura (Missouri), a bright light shone from the delivery room one winter day. It was the coming of none other than the esteemed Brett Wesley Virgin-Downey, known affectionately by his loved ones as BVD. As a brilliant chemistry major, Brett is able to get along with just about anyone because of his great chemistry with others *snickers.* He can often be found carousing with his fellow frisbee buddies, tossing the ol’ frisbee around, because they all really like playing frisbee. Brett is incredibly athletic, shown by his devotion to the ultimate frisbee team and his captainship of the Rice water polo team, and he keeps his bones durable and resilient with a hardy fifteen milks a day. He is an incredibly intelligent individual as well as a hard-working student. While making sure he is on top of all of his homework assignments, Brett also does research with iron nano particle synthesis and characterization at a local chemistry lab on the Rice campus. On top of this, Brett is a lover of shenanigans and video games, and many consider him to be a virtuoso! But all silliness aside, Brett is fantastic friend, and I couldn’t imagine a more loyal and caring person to be an advisor.
~Greg Aird, Lovett ‘15
Congratulations! You’ve hit the advisor jackpot with Myrna Garza. Chances are when you first meet her she’ll probably be gushing in Spanish as all intense emotions can only be expressed in her native tongue, and she’ll keep up the enthusiasm all week (and honestly all year). She’ll always be there to cheer you up with ice cream or freshly-baked brownies but she might fight you off for the last bite. She’s also not messing around when she describes her ideal man: tall, Catholic, Mexican cowboy. Unless, of course, Zac Efron is involved.
She has a passion for helping the community with her involvement in HACER and the Catholic Student Association, and for changing the world through her work at the Baker Institute. However it’s not all work and no play, because even though she might be constantly catching up on her Econ problem sets, she is nevertheless always up for a Taylor Swift jam session or a High School Musical marathon. Family comes first and she’ll make you feel like a part of hers, with her constant references to her three faves back in the Valley – Myriam, Abiel, and Nailyn. Her sassy smile and infectious laugh will brighten both your orientation week and your entire time at Rice. We hope that you really take the time to get to know her because if you do, you will love her as much as we do and will have gained a loyal, caring, and lifelong friend.
~Emma Chibnall, Lovett ‘15; Clare Jensen, Lovett ‘15; Kasia Nikiel, Lovett ‘16
Not many people get to be advised by the most popular girl at Rice, Yasmin Khalfe, so if you’re reading this, consider yourself one of the lucky ones! Not only does Yasmin average around 200 likes on every Facebook post, but even famous basketball players have slid into her Twitter DMs (not kidding, Shane Battier once personally messaged her good luck on her midterms). Yasmin balances her Biochemistry major and Pre-Med coursework with an insane number of extracurricular activities, from dominating IM sports in Powderpuff and volleyball to working as an officer for Rice Pre-Medical Society. At her home college, Yasmin serves as a member of Wiess Cabinet and helps her fellow students as a Peer Academic Advisor. But no matter how busy she may be, Yasmin is always ready to have a good time and be there for her friends.. Seriously, you might want to bring a pair of sunglasses to O-Week so that you aren’t rendered sightless by her impossibly white teeth (rumor has it people used them as a flashlight when the power went out across campus). All jokes aside, Yasmin is the kind of person everyone wishes they were. You are truly #blessed to have her as your advisor.
~Ben Tour and Sanjana Ranganathan, Wiess ‘15
Griffin “Griffy-Wiffy” Thomas is a self-proclaimed “big deal in Vermont,” whatever that means. The proud father of two avocado plants is a Political Science major who is passionate about education, politics, and putting an end to bullying. As if saving the world doesn’t take up enough time, he serves Lovett as our External Vice President and as a Peer Academic Advisor. Growing up, “Wiffleball” spent his time on typical activities for young Vermonters, like leaf-peeping and bee-keeping, but failed to learn what a jalapeño was until he got to Texas. Like evey politician, Griff has his secrets: his twin sister, his ability to shake it while instructing Zumba, and his right arm that threw a dodgeball at his PE teacher. But don’t let his sassy nature and bouncy hair fool you, Griffin is an amazing, loyal friend that is beyond excited to meet all the new students and he’ll do anything to make sure you get the best academic advice!
~Meghan Davenport and Mollie McDonnell, Lovett ‘15
Yasmin Khalfe
Co-Advisor
Griffin Thomas
O-Week Peer Academic Advisor
