Amarilis Lugo’s experiences at New Paltz play a major part in creating the person she is today.

Amarilis has carved out a goal for herself through participating in an off-campus internship and getting involved on campus as well. Amarilis, who is majoring in Art History and Public Relations, would like to fuse her two passions – art and working with people – to develop exciting educational radio and television programming about art.

“Everything I do at New Paltz plays into the larger goals I have set for myself,” she said.

She’s already learned a lot about promoting the arts through her involvement at the college’s Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art where she serves as a docent and leads detailed tours of exhibits like “A Designed Life: The Arts and Crafts of Byrdcliffe,” which is open until December 2007. To prepare for the tours, Amarilis does her homework. For “A Designed Life,” she spent time at Byrdcliffe Guild, an arts and crafts colony founded in Woodstock in the early 1900s, immersing herself in an effort to learn more about the guild’s mission and rich history.

As president of the Art History Club on campus, Amarilis has been active in organizing events such as spring break trips and symposiums that bring the arts to the campus community. She says the experience has helped her learn how to work with professionals and become a better public speaker.

This past summer, she worked as an intern in the promotions department at a radio station in nearby Poughkeepsie. Amarilis, who also worked at the campus radio station, WFNP, says the position provided her with another opportunity to face challenges and work toward her goals. 

The college junior has also been involved in Residence Hall Government and is currently treasurer of the organization that works to provide students living on campus with a voice. And this year, Amarilis added the title, Student Activities Manager (SAM), to her resume. She works with other SAMs to organize and coordinate on-campus general programs for the entire student body.

Amarilis says she doesn’t have to excel at every endeavor, but that by trying new things and exploring her passions, she has learned some of the most valuable lessons.