Author: Diane Toroian Keaggy

On Dec. 12, 707 high school seniors opened their inboxes to learn that they had been accepted early decision to Washington University in St. Louis. But Zussy Chavira Duron of St. Louis got the good news straight from a team of Washington University leaders and the WashU Bear, who traveled to the College Bound St. Louis office to surprise her with an acceptance letter and a full WashU Pledge scholarship.

Harsh Moolani initially shrugged off a friend’s advice to quit trying to do it all. Then he considered the source: a remarkable woman with a successful career, good friends — and only a few months to live. Moolani is set to graduate in December with a degree in neuroscience in Arts & Sciences. He will remain in St. Louis and expand Create Circles, the nonprofit he founded to connect older and younger adults.

Social workers have long served traumatized students, sick patients, struggling veterans and troubled families. But can they help the American mayor? Absolutely, said Diamond Munerlyn, who is poised to earn a master’s degree in social work from the Brown School. The recognition ceremony is Saturday, Dec. 14. 

Washington University in St. Louis senior Grace Bruton will work her final games as photo editor of Student Life this weekend at the 19th annual McWilliams Classic. During her seven semesters here, she has captured more than 90 games, meets and matches, four NCAA championship teams, the retirement of beloved football coach Larry Kindbom and the arrival of powerhouse Anthony J. Azama, the John M. Schael Director of Athletics.

The Washington University in St. Louis Police Department invites the campus community to join its effort to bring holiday joy to two local families through its Blue Santa program. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 20.

Color, collages and comfort — those characteristics identify the winning rooms in the 2019 #DecYourDigs room-decorating contest sponsored by the Office of Residential Life. Here, The Record takes a peek at some of the coolest rooms on the South 40.

Senior Sean Dunnsue is leading the Men’s Project at Washington University, one of a growing number of student groups across the country that is examining concepts of masculinity.

Stagnant scores, frustrated students, daunted educators — such is the state of math education across the nation and in the region. That’s why the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis is introducing Math314, an innovative program that will improve math instruction and boost students’ enthusiasm for the subject.  

McKelvey School of Engineering student Zach Eisner traveled to Sierra Leone, a nation with no emergency medicine, to teach 1,000 residents how to stop bleeding, conduct CPR, splint a broken bone and transport an injury victim on a motorcycle. “The taxi driver, the teacher, the person on the street — these are the people who, with the right training and support, can save lives,” Eisner said.

In launching the St. Louis Queer + Support Helpline (SQSH), senior Luka Cai is providing the local community the support they never received as a queer teenager in Singapore. Cai and co-founder Riott Kochman, a Brown School student, will receive a Holobaugh honor for SQSH at the annual James M. Holobaugh Honors Ceremony Nov. 11.