Dean Laganosky '09

Hometown: Wilmington, Del.
High School: Salesianum
Major: Biological Sciences
Activities: Baseball (2008-09 co-captian), Volunteer at Bryn Mawr, St. Joseph's, and Christiana Hospitals.

Why did you choose Haverford?
When I was going through the process of selecting a college, Haverford immediately caught my interest due not only to its prestigious academic reputation, but also its uniquely personalized athletic recruiting strategies. Amongst the piles of standardized letters that I had been receiving from other institutions, I remember being pleasantly surprised to find a hand written letter from Haverford's coach, Dave Beccaria. It really conveyed a sense of genuine interest in that it was something that was specifically addressing me as an individual. This in and of itself immediately set it apart from many of the other institutions that I had been receiving information from, where new recruits were simply ‘dime a dozen' prospects that could be used as in a dispensable manner to better their programs.

Thoughts on the Honor Code:
The Honor Code is one of Haverford's most unique and celebrated aspects. The increased amount of power given to the student population as a result of the Honor Code places an even greater focus on personal responsibility and teaches the importance of taking individual accountability for one's decisions and actions. It truly highlights the value behind making positive decisions and the impact that one's choices can have on the others in the community.

Favorite extra curricular activity?
My favorite extracurricular activity would have to be playing on the Haverford Baseball team. It's really a relaxing break from the stress brought on by the rigors of the college's academic schedule. It's something to look forward to everyday after classes. We have a great group of guys that all get along with one another, which I really think translates to our success on the ball field in recent years.

Post-graduate plans:
After graduation, I plan on taking a year off to travel and possibly pursue professional baseball if the opportunity presents itself again next year. Then, it's off to medical school for the rest of my young adult life. As depressing as it may be to come to the realization that I'll be in school practically until my thirties, I believe that medicine will be a personally fulfilling career choice and a rewarding challenge that I look forward to facing.

Favorite Haverford memory?
Although there are many to choose from, my absolute favorite memory since I've been at Haverford would have to be when our baseball team finally beat Franklin & Marshall for the first time in my career this past year. Our season was on the line in the loser's bracket of the 2008 Centennial Conference Playoffs and we had already lost to F&M two games earlier. It was a great team win and one that marked a pivotal moment for our program because it really showed that there was no one that we couldn't beat.