This week, we at the Stone would like to recognize yet
another one of the exceptional members of the Gemstone program. Rising sophomore Cassidy Laidlaw, new member
of team BIASES, is a Computer Science and Mathematics double major. Last semester, he enjoyed his heavy course load
complete with programming, algorithm analysis, and abstract algebra. However, Cassidy is much more than a double STEM major as he is also a member of the Men’s Choir and a jazz
ensemble on campus at the University of Maryland.
Cassidy’s
face lit up during our interview whenever he spoke about music. During the spring semester, he was busy
performing in weekly concerts for both of his music groups. As a member of Men’s Choir, Cassidy had the
opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center with some of the cast members of Les Miserables, an experience he
thoroughly enjoyed. In addition to
performing, music also influenced Cassidy a different way this semester. He participated in a Jerusalem Marathon where
he raised over $2,500 to support children in Israel. At the end of his fundraising, he flew to
Israel over spring break to run the marathon and to meet the child he was
partnered with for the duration of the fundraising. During his time overseas, Cassidy had the
chance to hear his partner sing with the charity choir, which he described as a
beautiful and special experience. His
affiliation with Israel does not stop with this touching experience. Cassidy
will be a co-president of Terpim next semester, which is an Israeli culture
group on campus. While participating in
all of these activities would be enough for most people, he also finds time to tutor kids in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in
a nearby community, to work on a computer program he took on as a side project,
and to satisfy his love of the outdoors by biking and running.
Cassidy’s
plans for the future are just as impressive as the litany of activities he
participates in now. He is currently
weighing his career preferences, but he believes that he would be happy doing
research as a professor. However, he is
very excited by the possibility of working at Not Impossible Labs, a company
that looks to solve the diverse problems facing humanity. Cassidy is attracted to the opportunity of
having a job where he could directly see his ideas and work affect other people
positively. His last goal may not be
entirely surprising, as Cassidy bikes all over campus, but he hopes one day to bike all the way across the country. He
may have just been placed on his Gemstone team but Cassidy is already doing
great things, and there is no doubt that he will continue to do so throughout
his time at the University of Maryland.
-
15 June 2015 – Nate Nenortas
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