The daughter of a graduate of Russellville High School had an impressive college commencement to remember this week.
Lauren Hancock graduated from Barnard College in New York City on Sunday, May 19. The commencement exercises were held at the world-famous Radio City Music Hall. She was one of the speakers after being voted by her classmates to be co-chairman of the Barnard Digital Fund.
Lauren is the daughter of 1979 RHS graduate Carter Hancock, who has lived in Louisville for many years. She is the granddaughter of former Russellville newspaper owners Martha Helen and Al Smith, now of Lexington. Carter and Martha Helen attended her graduation.
Lauren majored in Spanish and Human Rights with two minors in Political Science and International Economics. Roughly 80 percent of her classes were at nearby Columbia University. The Senior Fund raised $8,000 for the class of 2012 last year. The Senior Fund raised $27,000—with 68 percent class participation for the class of 2013, which she was co-chaired.
The recent graduate wants to get a job in University Endowment Departments. About six weeks ago, Lauren traveled to Yale Universityand met with the head of the Yale Endowment Fund, second largest in the United States, just behind Harvard. “Lauren's goal was to get a letter of recommendation from this woman, which I am proud to say she did,” Carter says.
“I was aware that Lauren was a hard working student, but was really taken back by just how dynamic of a young woman she actually is. After the graduation, Mom and I were taking pictures in front of the CNN/Time Building across from Radio City Music Hall, and so many parents shouted out, ‘Lauren Hancock, you are awesome!!’ I have no idea who these people were, but, it made me so proud that I stayed involved in her life,” Carter says.
Barnard College is a private women’s liberal arts college which was founded in 1889. It has been affiliated with Columbia for over a century. It’s located on Broadway between 116th and 120th streets in Manhatten.
“I am one proud daddy!,” Carter Hancock says. “Imagine, my child speaking on stage at Radio City Music Hall.”
A link to Lauren’s speech at Radio City follows:
https://barnard.edu/news/greeting-senior-fund-co-chairs