Maria Tomassi

               We see her face grace the cover of Scholastica every month.  She keeps us all up to date on the latest happenings within the Honors College.  She greets us with a smile (and a ladle of her special punch drink) at almost every Honors event.  This accomplished lady can only be Maria Tomassi.

            Maria definitely has carved her niche within the Pace Community and has made herself a prominent figure in the Honors College.  Maria is currently in her fourth of five years at Pace, in the five-year accounting program.  As editor ofScholastica, Maria has managed to develop the finest newsletter in the country.  She has left her mark at Pace University by winning the National Collegiate Honors Council newsletter contest for 2006.  Maria has been the editor ofScholastica for the past two years, and she considers winning this award to be her favorite moment as editor.  She will never forget the feeling of finding out that all her hard work over the years had paid off.  “I couldn’t believe it! I was so happy.  Dr. Benton and I did a celebratory dance!”

            Besides devoting so much time to Scholastica, Maria still has managed to be actively involved in various organizations and honors societies on campus.  She has been layout editor for The Paw Print, vice president of Accounting Society, a member of Alpha Chi Honor Society, and the president of Golden Key International Honor Society.

            Maria has taken advantage of what she believes to be one of the greatest opportunities Pace has to offer: Co-Op.  Maria as used the strong relationships that Pace has built with top firms to expose herself to the business world. “I owe my internships and future job to Co-Op,” says Maria.      Maria had a wonderful experience interning for KPMG, one of the big four accounting firms, and is hoping to continue working for them after graduation.  

            Maria is a hard-working and determined individual.  She has fostered this drive for success from the strong, successful women in her family.  These women have overcome obstacles and accomplished their goals.  Maria has used their character as a model for achieving success.

            Although Maria is a very hard worker, she never fails to express her creative and fun side.  This side of Maria often comes out in her A Few Words feature in Scholastica, in which readers got to know a little bit more about her.  Maria liked to talk about all the important things happening in her life.  “To those who are close to me, I’m an open book.  I’m not afraid to share stories and talk about my own experiences.”  She is the first to admit, “I get a little silly sometimes.”  If there were one additional thing she would like to share with everyone in her last A Few Words, it would be about her experience during Spring Break when she met and kissed Flipper in the Bahamas.  This light-hearted sense of humor that she possesses adds to the dynamic character of Maria Tomassi.

            Maria has certainly paved her way to success at Pace University.  “I hope that in the future I continue to do great things,” she says.  The Honors Collegethanks Maria Tomassi for her contributions and wishes her the best of luck in her future achievements. “I want to be remembered as hard-working and dedicated, but still fun.”