A sincere commitment to mankind makes Trey Sinyard truly amazing.
Hometown:
Athens, GA
High School:
Athens Academy
Degree objective:
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Bachelor of Business Administration in Banking & Finance
Expected graduation:
Fall 2011
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
On campus, I absolutely adore the community of individuals who I get to work with at the UGA Visitors Center on a regular basis. I’ve also fallen in love with many of the individuals in such student groups and Honors programs as the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society, Blue Key, Foundation Fellows, Greek InterVarsity and the Tate Society. My senior year has afforded me a position on the Athletic Board and thus opportunities to cut my teeth on the governance side of campus with the Student Government Association. I’m passionate about serving the needs of the student body as a whole and have truly enjoyed my time with student-elected representatives this year. In addition, UGA has graciously afforded me the ability to travel during my undergraduate years, and I’ve been lucky enough to touch six of the seven continents (still working on Antarctica) during the past four years. From the libraries of Oxford to the Italian Riviera to the beaches of the Fijian islands to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro to Macchu Picchu, I’ve been privileged to view, touch and taste some of the greatest places in the world. It’s funny how the memories that are still the most vivid only involve the people I met while traveling or traveled with in the first place. People are more beautiful than any mountain, beach, or man-made structure. Spend time celebrating them!
My love for mankind has driven me to spend time with all types of people even off campus, regardless of race, intellectual ability or socioeconomic status. Virtually all of my highlights of college center on building relationships. Beginning my freshman year, I thoroughly enjoyed developing a two-year relationship with several Hispanic middle-schoolers in the Pineview neighborhood as part of the Oasis Catolico tutoring initiative. Through the Athens “Peanut Butter and Jelly” service organization, I was fortunate to befriend an incredible UGA graduate who had recently fallen on hard times and was forced to live in a tent on the outskirts of town. Miraculously, I was able to witness his transformation and transition away from substance abuse into a stable environment with family. He is still a close friend today. Teaching ballroom dance and leadership at the Perfectly Polished School of Etiquette and Dance, I’ve been privileged to cultivate phenomenal friendships with local fifth grade students and watch them grow from shy elementary school kids into mature leaders who will undoubtedly conquer high school with firm handshakes, bold eye contact and ballroom dancing skills to boot!
Related to my healthcare interests, Mercy Health Center has provided me an amazing opportunity to serve underprivileged and uninsured individuals from the Athens community. I’m lucky enough to spend time with many patients during the evening in counseling and check-out. The Spanish-speaking patients are often the liveliest (extremely beneficial for my language skills, too), and I can’t verbally express how wonderful it has been to build intimacy with so many people over the last five years of service.
Finally, I can’t leave out the incredible athletes I’ve had the opportunity to coach and mentor through the Upward Bound basketball program. My fifth and sixth grade girls’ team has challenged me in innumerable ways, but I couldn’t be more proud of their progress this past season. Go Dream Team!
Certainly, my time at UGA has been beyond blessed. And while some may attribute this “success” to me, I want to be joyfully clear that my love for life and my purpose are derived solely from Jesus Christ my Savior. Without Him my college years would be devoid of direction and true life. No award, achievement or activity has ever come close to eclipsing the greatness that comes from having an eternal relationship with Him. It is from Him that I glean my sincere love for all people as well as my desire to serve those around us. All praise to Him, not me.
Current Employment:
I currently work part-time at the UGA Visitors Center as a student tour guide. It is, hands-down, the best job on campus. The full-time staff, student community and atmosphere generated in the renovated barn that houses the center are, in my humble opinion, unparalleled and unequaled in any work environment elsewhere. If laughing until my stomach hurts, acting as a front for the most beautiful campus in the country, and being inspired to change the world count as work, then I’ll do overtime any day of the week.
Family Ties to UGA:
Both my mother and father graduated from the University of Georgia in the late 70s and early 80s, respectively. It’s not too farfetched to speculate that my first “word” was less a proper English construction and more of an English bulldog bark.
I chose to attend UGA because…
…of the UGA Honors program and Foundation Fellowship. Despite my love for the Bulldogs growing up, I always thought I would end up pursuing my undergraduate degree at an out-of-state institution. In a very arrogant and uninformed way, I assumed that UGA’s academic standards were lower than my targets. Fortunately, I had the privilege of spending time with some incredible upperclassmen and attending the Foundation Fellows Interview Weekend. Once I was engaged with UGA students and their many passions as well as infinite opportunities, I was sold on the school. I truly have yet to find a state school Honors program that fosters amazing community and collaboration while preparing students to literally achieve their dreams.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
(a) go to class;
(b) smile and speak to people that I don’t know in between classes;
(c) grab lunch with a friend or new acquaintance in the Tate Cafe;
(d) walk aimlessly around on North Campus;
(e) visit the UGA Creamery; and,
(f) read a book in the Founder’s Garden
When I have free time, I like…
…to be outside. I particularly enjoy adventure sports, such as mountain biking, white-water rafting and rock climbing. A run with friends next to the river at the State Botanical Garden isn’t so bad either. As silly as this sounds, there’s just something about nature that dares men to go and enjoy it. Some of the best community and relationship-building opportunities I’ve experienced have come while in the outdoors away from electronic distractions and the frantic pace of the world.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
..jump from an “off-limits” 30 feet cliff into a natural pool of water below at an undisclosed location about 20 minutes from campus. A close second would have to be an evening in Mumbai, India this past summer when two friends and I were suddenly kicked out of our hostel (literally into the streets) because of a paperwork snafu.
My favorite place to study is…
…a window seat on the seventh floor of the Main Library on North Campus. If you haven’t seen the view of campus and the city of Athens from here then you are thoroughly missing out on a significant part of the UGA experience.
My favorite professor is…
…Dr. Frank Harrison in the Philosophy Department. No one has ever challenged how I think/reason in such a profound way as he has. Even more importantly, he did it in just a one-hour seminar on ethics my freshmen year. I’m scared to imagine what might happen over an entire semester.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…Mother Theresa. After reading a biography primarily comprised of her letters to mentors and friends, Come Be My Light, I’ve been fascinated by her unfailing selflessness and dedication to the poorest of the poor. When I dream big, I dream about being like Mother Theresa.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
…find a way to make everyone in the world know they are of immeasurable value. Too many people live lives of “quiet desperation” (Thoreau) because they are lonely and, as they perceive themselves, insignificant. This couldn’t be farther from the truth!
After graduation, I plan to…
…pursue an MD/MPH dual-degree that will ultimately prepare me to work in the health-care sector.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
…the UGA Blackout game vs. Auburn in 2007. As standard as this answer is, I don’t think the memories of so many close friends together screaming their heads off and dancing during four hours of sheer pandemonium will fade anytime soon.