A wonderful moment during Cornell University's graduation celebrations last weekend: MPH alum Charlie Mann '19, a student in Cornell's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, was named one of the University's Merrill Presidential Scholars and chose to recognize Sarah Chhablani as the high school teacher or mentor who had the greatest impact on his early education.
According to Cornell, Merrill Scholars are, "Graduating seniors selected by deans of the university’s 10 undergraduate colleges and schools based on their outstanding scholastic achievement, their strong leadership and their desire to positively impact the world beyond Cornell. program led by Cornell faculty on a topic of broad interest and a celebratory luncheon.
"Merrill Presidential Scholars represent just 1% of Cornell’s graduating class,” President Martha E. Pollack said during her opening remarks. “In a group that is already remarkable, they are exceptional.”
In his Cornell career, Charlie received a Rawlings Cornell Presidential Research Scholarship to fund his senior thesis on the impact of marijuana legalization on alcohol consumption. He’s co-authored papers on information disclosures and pharmaceutical advertising. He’s led teams of graduate students for the Cornell Policy Review and supported LGBTQ+ students as co-president of the Queer Professional Community. Charlie places highly in Deloitte’s National Case Competition, led consulting projects for social enterprises through the Social Enterprise Group Cornell, and is a member of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society. After graduating, Charlie will head to Wall Street to finance sustainable and socially impactful projects with RBC.
From Ms. Chhablani: I had the distinct honor of attending Cornell University’s Merrill Presidential Scholars Convocation. The Merrill Presidential Scholars program began in 1988 to honor excellence in teaching and scholarship. Cornell’s Merrill Scholars represent the top 1% of Cornell’s undergraduate students. This year, Charlie Mann, 2019 MPH graduate, earned that distinction. He invited me to attend the ceremony.
I taught Charlie for all four years of his high school career. I am not at all surprised by his accomplishments and accolades. They are very well deserved and I wish him the best of luck.
Pictured below, from left: Sarah Chhablani, Charlie Mann '19, Cornell University President Martha Pollack, and Cornell Professor of Public Policy Rosemary Avery.
