What are Eli Whitney students like? This is a difficult question to answer because there is no “typical” student in the Eli Whitney Students Program. They come from all walks of life. They are entrepreneurs, community or social activists, veterans, parents, business professionals, and they range in age from mid-twenties to fifties.
After graduation Eli Whitney alumni do remarkable work with their Yale degrees. Explore EWSP alumni profiles.
John
After graduating early from high school in Fresno, CA, I travelled across the western part of the United States in my converted ‘99 Ford Ranger, and I completed parts of the Pacific Crest Trail. After a poor attempt at community college, I enlisted in the Air Force as a Russian linguist. My time at the Defense Language Institute was formative in my decision to eventually return to college. As my military contract came to an end, I decided to go back to school at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE. At Yale I plan to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am most grateful for the quality of professors at Yale; I am constantly blown away that I am being taught by some of the most intelligent people in the world.
Karolina
I grew up as one of 11 siblings in Michigan. After high school, I enlisted in the Air Force as a Weather Journeyman for four years. While serving in the military, I became a certified yoga instructor and taught yoga to sexual assault survivors. I also started taking online courses, but the constraints of online learning and shift-work made it difficult to pursue my academic interests of writing and foreign language in full. I decided to return to college after my discharge. Currently, I am majoring in Architecture, although I am still exploring majors within the Arts and Humanities. It has been a privilege to have one-on-one conversations with professors, and hands-on access to rare books, manuscripts, and original art at the Beinecke Library and Yale University Art Gallery. At Yale, I enjoy Polish Club, attending guest speaker events hosted by the English Department, and singing in the Yale Undergraduate Chamber Choir.
Laurie
Born and raised in Virginia, I was the first in my family to attend college, a decision that was inspired by my part-time job as a dental assistant in high school. I graduated from Northern Virginia Community College with a degree in Dental Hygiene, and I worked as a dental hygienist for 6 years before returning to college. Now at Yale, I have worked in a lab doing research in epigenomics of psychiatric disorders, and I’ve pursued my entrepreneurial interests through Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale. I am particularly interested in healthcare reform, and I’ve been able to participate in healthcare hackathons and startup pitches on campus.
Patrick
Before coming to Yale, I served as a Maritime Enforcement Specialist in the Coast Guard, where I was involved in law enforcement training, counter-narcotics interdiction, and tactical boat operations. In 2020, I left the Coast Guard and started taking classes at City College of San Francisco. I am now majoring in Economics with a focus on energy transition and sustainable energy. I conducted economics research at Cambridge university during the summer of 2024 and will spend the summer of 2025 as an intern with a mergers & acquisitions team at an investment bank. I am actively involved in Yale’s Club Powerlifting Team and the Chess Club. My Yale experience has been transformative, particularly the mentorship from professors who have guided my energy research. I am incredibly grateful for the wealth of opportunities the Eli Whitney Students Program has afforded me and the robust support provided by Yale’s veteran community.
Thomas
Originally from California, I now live in New Haven as a Yale student. I am majoring in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology. When I was young, I never planned on going to college. I spent ten years in the Air Force as a Tactical Air Control Party specialist and Joint Terminal Attack Controller. While serving in the military, I discovered a passion for science and medicine, leading me to leave the military and enroll at Cabrillo College before matriculating at Yale. During my first summer at Yale, I worked as a researcher in a cardiovascular lab at the Yale School of Medicine further expanding my interests in life sciences. I currently serve as President of the Yale Undergraduate Veterans Society. The highlight of my Yale experience so far has been the community. The support from fellow Eli Whitney students and veterans has been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals and thrive at Yale.
Tyler
Before matriculating at Yale, I was a self-employed general contractor of 20 years and father of 3 (now 4). That was when I assumed college was unnecessary and that climate change was a hoax. However, in 2017, life suddenly changed after I fell 25 feet and was initially paralyzed from the waist down. In the following two years, I began to re-dream and re-invent life, so I decided to pursue a career I was more passionate about: Environmental stewardship. After several semesters at Gateway Community College, I gained the academic confidence and intellect needed to apply to the Eli Whitney Students Program. My inspiring mentors, including Professors Duguid, Fotos, Latham, and Lee, along with the generous financial support of the program, made my time at Yale a very fruitful reality. In May of 2025, I will finally earn my Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies. With my knowledge now deepened by my academic journey and my two summer internships with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, I now have what it takes to begin my career in socio-ecological restoration.
Zeff
I’m Zeff. I was born and raised in Yonkers, New York. After high school, I pursued various creative fields including fashion design, videography, and music production. A hard-drive crash led me to take-up martial arts, which I later coached while attending community college. At SUNY Westchester, I fell in love with philosophy, leading me to Yale’s Physics & Philosophy major. I spent the summer of 2024 in Batumi, Georgia, studying Russian and Georgian culture thanks to Yale’s International Study Award. Post-Yale, I aim to pursue graduate studies in Physics, Classics, or Philosophy, with the goal of becoming a university professor. In my free time. You can find me playing games with friends at the Yale Chess Club, sparring at the Yale MMA club (drop by for a training session!), or watching math videos. My most cherished memories at Yale so far include get-togethers at Gryphon’s Pub, cracking tough problem sets with friends, and late-night birria grilled cheese sandwiches at the Ivy after exams.