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Student Spotlight: Kaycee Viator’22 (History, Spanish)

Building a Healthier Society

Keep an eye out for the name Kaycee Viator showing up on your future ballot! This bilingual student is planning on using her passion for the Constitution to fight back against injustice, both in the courtroom and behind a podium.

What do you see yourself doing as a career?

I see myself becoming a bilingual Constitutional or Civil Rights lawyer. Somewhere down the line, I would like to either hold public office or be a politician.

I love learning about how the government works and the role of politics in daily life.

How will your Roberts education help you reach those goals?

Here at Roberts, my faculty members genuinely care about me and my success. I can count on them for career guidance.

Academically, these courses were intellectually stimulating and helped me analyze and answer questions I hadn’t before, such as…

• How should I think like a historian?
• Why does history seem to repeat itself?
• Who is responsible for spearheading change in society?

What is the best thing about studying History?

I love analyzing the past in order to learn how much progress has (or hasn’t) been made in building a healthier and more accepting society.

As a constitutional lawyer, I would like to help build that society by standing up for people who have been mocked or stereotyped simply based on their racial or ethnic background. I want to show them that their voices are heard and that their opinions are valued.

What course (so far) has been your favorite and why?

My favorite course was Constitutional History. I took the course during the Spring 2020 semester with Dr. Matthew Moore.

In that class, I learned about the events that led to the signing of the United States Constitution, the changes that it has undergone over the centuries, and the opinions of a variety of social groups on some amendments. This course made me more excited about becoming a Constitutional lawyer!

Speaking of 2020, here’s a photo of me in the Capitol Building in Albany! I was there as a part of a tour that was given to student cabinet members of the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities, or CICU.

What is your favorite thing about being Roberts' Senior Class President?

My favorite thing about being Senior Class President is planning events and making my classmates’ college experiences more enjoyable and memorable.

For example, one of my favorite events to plan was Monster Mash, our annual Halloween party. Everyone was so excited for the costume contests, all the snacks and candy, and the great music.

If I could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, I’d tell them to attend as many of these events as possible. They help you connect with the Roberts community and step out of your comfort zone.

What academic or professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

The academic accomplishment that I am most proud of is the First in Family Scholarship. I was given this award in April 2018 based on my academic excellence, financial need, and status as a first-generation college student.

I was filled with so much joy when I realized it turned my dream of attaining a post-secondary education into reality! Earning the scholarship helped me feel like I can overcome adversity and proved that all of my hard work was not going unnoticed.

If you could help everyone understand one thing, what would it be and why?

The importance of self-reflection. It’s essential for everyone to take time out of their schedules to think deeply about their experiences, both past and present. It helps people figure out who they are and why they behave the way they do on a deeper level.

Overall, self-reflection has greatly helped me appreciate the beauty of the human condition.

Faculty Feedback

"Kaycee Viator is an exceptional person and superlative student. Gifted in many ways, she approaches any task with aplomb and grace. As my advisee, student, and office assistant for the past few years, I have witnessed Kaycee effectively navigating moral conundrums, complicated social justice issues, and difficult intellectual content— all with a high degree of flourishing.

"I am so proud to know Kaycee, and it is easy to identify her as a person who exemplifies the Roberts Wesleyan College spirit."

-Matthew Moore, Associate Professor of Humanities and Director of Traditional Undergraduate General Education

"Kaycee is everything we want to have in a student leader on campus! Kaycee is passionate, vibrant, organized, and hard-working in all of her endeavors. I am inspired by her outstanding communication and leadership skills in her role as Senior Class Council President. Kaycee's leadership and involvement in student activities has been pivotal to the Roberts student experience!"

-Celeste Donleavy, Assistant Dean of Students and Adjunct Professor for First-Year Seminar

Do you know an exceptional and current Roberts Wesleyan student? We're looking for anything notable, not just grades – have they earned a new job, award, or internship? Started a business? Whatever makes your ears perk up, let us know. Click here to recommend a student.

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