Virginia Tech Alumni Association News - Spring 2002
James
Disney '02
A Gentleman and a Scholar
On paper, James Disney is an impressive young man - winner of the Gamma Sigma Delta Sophomore and Junior Awards of Merit and the Viers Chemistry Award; recipient of four Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences Merit Scholarships; named Student Ambassador by the Animal and Poultry Sciences faculty; selected as Undergraduate Representative to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors; listed in the 2001 Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, to name just a few of his distinctions. While his resume lists his many accomplishments and honors earned, and gives evidence to his academic excellence and dedication and service to Virginia Tech, it is in person that the full measure of this remarkable student comes to light. When asked about his success as a student at Tech, James enthusiastically shared his secret: "involvement."
"Although he wasn't a member himself, my brother [Todd L. Disney (history '00)] suggested that I look into joining the German Club as a way of getting involved," he said. "He had heard good things about it and said that it seemed like a good organization with some great members." James, who served as the Club's executive vice president for 2001-2002, credits the German Club as being "the springboard for almost all my other activities at Tech." Inspired by some fellow Club members who were either Resident Advisors or Class Officers, Disney became Resident Advisor for Pritchard Hall, and was elected Class of 2002 Male Member-at-Large. When asked why he ran for a Class Officer position, smiling, he answered, "I wanted to be on the class ring design committee."
His candid answer gives insight into the balanced individual he is, for in addition to his scholastic accomplishments and service interests, James has a creative and fun side. As Student Programs Coordinator, Virginia Tech Alumni Association staff member Shari Malone has firsthand knowledge of his ability to think creatively. "We were in the ring design meetings for the Class of 2002 and James would sit quietly, take it all in, and then come up with some of the most phenomenal ideas for creating and marketing the class ring," she said.
Enthusiasm is another dimension of James Disney's success as a student leader and a quality he readily shares with others in his various service and leadership roles. Serving as Freshman Orientation Leader/Team Leader during the summer of 2001 enabled James to pass along his enthusiasm to new Hokies. Disney feels that he was fortunate to have a sense of "excitement and enthusiasm coming to Tech" as a freshman because, unlike some Tech students, he grew up in a Hokie household. As children, James and his brother, Todd, heard all about Virginia Tech from their stepfather, James R. Fulton (mechanical engineering '73 and current treasurer of the Baltimore Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association). "Tech has always been well displayed at home. We always have a Hokie Flag, doggie bowls and leashes around."
His parents are avid sports fans, and football season ticket holders. He added, with a sense of pride, that his stepfather appears in "a composite photo hanging in Randolph Hall," and several members of the Fulton family are also Tech alumni. Graduating cum laude from the
McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland, James was proud to continue the family legacy and started his student career at Tech as winner of the 1998 Baltimore Chapter Virginia Tech Alumni Merit Scholarship.
As noteworthy as his service and leadership roles are, Disney's academic achievements are equally remarkable, from his 3.97 grade point average to the impressive scholastic awards he has earned. Because of his interest in biology and chemistry, James entered Virginia Tech in animal and poultry sciences, with a science-biotechnology option and thoughts of becoming a veterinarian. Yet, through his coursework and observing physicians at Montgomery Regional Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital, he discovered that he liked surgery, especially the aspects of "split second decision-making" and the ability to "use my hands." Those interests lead him to apply to the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been accepted at both schools for fall, 2002.
With commencement looming in May, James is reflective about leaving Virginia Tech, expressing that "graduation will be bittersweet, but I am ready to move on." Summing up his involvement at Tech, he stated that "with all that Virginia Tech gave me and will continue to give me, the least I could offer was as much service as possible," adding that it was a "learning opportunity." Asked about his future participation as a Virginia Tech alumnus, Disney said that he intends to remain actively involved with the university and hopes that one day he will be able to provide a "scholarship for students who want to come to Virginia Tech." And, of course, he plans to attend Hokie football games whenever possible.
With more than 20 years of experience in working with student leaders, Shari Malone's insight into what makes James Disney a standout is especially telling: "It has always been a pleasure to work with him because of his impressive work ethic, his reliability, his strong organizational skills when working with a team, his ability to motivate others and his vision for what needs to happen," she said. "I applaud him for taking advantage of the many and varied opportunities that are within anyone's grasp on a college campus. He has truly enhanced his student experience and will leave an outstanding example for others to follow."
By Sky Williams