“A number of Wake Forest students work hard to learn things well, occasionally to the point of mastery. A number of Wake Forest students work creatively to gain the most from opportunities such as research and summer travel. A number of Wake Forest students commit themselves to participation and leadership on behalf of and in service to their peers. But very few students — at Wake Forest or any college campus — excel in all three areas to equal and profound accomplishment. Sarah Rudasill is that special person who has accomplished much and given much. And she has so much more to learn, give, serve and achieve in her already remarkable life. We are all proud of her, honored to know her, and excited for her future.”
These are the words of Professor Tom Phillips of the Wake Forest Scholars Program, an individual who has known Rudasill since she was in high school, interviewing her for one of Wake Forest’s prestigious scholarships. Remarks as kind as Dr. Phillips are not difficult to find, when Rudasill is the topic of conversation.
She is a familiar face on campus, serving the student body as the president of Student Union and representing all students as their student representative on the Board of Trustees. Through her leadership, Rudasill has been instrumental in planning and executing each event put on by Student Union, including her favorite of the year, Springfest.
As Rudasill reflects on her many memories at Wake Forest, she maintains that in addition to playing frisbee on the quad and her study abroad experiences, 20 years from now, it will be the Student Union led concerts, Tuesday Trivia nights, guest lecturers and the annual Shag on the Mag that will be remembered most.
“I still don’t know how to shag dance, but the atmosphere of everyone celebrating the coming of spring is really beautiful and something I will always hold close to my heart,” Rudasill said in reflection.
While most know Rudasill as a student leader on campus, not as many know of her academic ambitions and accomplishments. Through a unique combination of major and minors and with extensive research experiences, Rudasill has broadened her understanding of the world and how she can change it for the better. As an economics major with minors in chemistry and health policy and administration, Rudasill has conducted research with the Anna Julia Cooper Center and worked at the Economic Policy Research Institute, a think tank in Cape Town, South Africa, where she found time to go on a number of adventures while participating in meaningful research under the Richter Fellowship. In the fall of 2015 Rudasill studied abroad at Cambridge University’s Institute of Economic and Political Studies.
After completing her studies at UCLA, Rudasill has plans to pursue careers in neurosurgery, clinical research, teaching and hospital administration. Rudasill even sees herself being the dean of a medical school someday and establishing medical education programs in developing countries.
Needless to say, Rudasill has been a valuable member of the Wake Forest community, and every Demon Deacon anxiously awaits as she prepares to make the world a better place.
