HWS News
1 September 2022 New Hai Timiai Members Lead William Smith in Excellence By Kylie Rowland '24
Newly inducted members of Hai Timiai honor society are introduced to the community.
Eight William Smith juniors were inducted to Hai Timiai, the senior honor society for William Smith, last spring as rising seniors. The faculty and staff who nominated the new inductees were also invited to attend a formal induction ceremony and dinner. At the ceremony, the new Hai Timiai members were celebrated and presented with the honor society’s iconic green blazers.
William Smith Dean Lisa Kaenzig P’22, who serves as the advisor to Hai Timiai, says she is proud to introduce this year’s cohort of inductees, who represent many of the values of William Smith. “The newest members of Hai Timiai are remarkable William Smith students who lead on our campus and in the world. They are seniors that younger class years of students look up to and strive to emulate,” Kaenzig says.
This year’s inductees include: Taline Almasian ’23, Litzy Bautista ’23, Fatou Diokhane ’23, Cezanne Henriquez ’23, Irini Konstantinou ’23, Niima Sellah ’23, Tess Weber ’23 and Katerina Yacoub ’23.
Taline Almasian ’23 is an environmental studies major with a double minor in biology and philosophy. On campus, she works in the Dean’s Office and is a member of the Birding Club. Almasian is involved in environmental research and spent this summer conducting research on trout in Seneca Lake.
Litzy Bautista ’23 is a political science and Latin American studies double major. She served as William Smith Congress President and was a Junior Board Member. She is currently a Writing Fellow, Community Assistant, one of the Chapter Leaders of PLEN, and a Coalition Leader for HWS Votes.
Fatou Diokhane ’23 is majoring in political science and Africana studies. She serves as a Chapter Leader for PLEN and works as a student assistant in the Dean’s office. Diokhane works to influence education policy through her position as a program assistant for the Elevating Youth Voice Program at the Student Success Network.
Cezanne Henriquez ’23 is an education major with minors in psychology and child advocacy. She works as a career assistant at the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education, a student assistant in the Dean’s Office, and as a tour guide for the Admissions Office. Henriquez also serves as a study mentor for the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Irini Konstantinou ’23 is majoring in English and writing and rhetoric with a minor in dance. Konstantinou is the William Smith Student Trustee and is involved with Student Government. She works as a Writing Fellow for the Center for Teaching and Learning and serves as treasurer for the Kinetic Dance Collective.
Niima Sellah ’23 is a political science major with a combined major in anthropology-sociology and a minor in international relations. She is also pursuing a Leads certificate. Sellah serves as the president for William Smith Congress and as a civic leader on campus. She was a finalist for both the Pitch and the Leadership Case Competition.
Tess Weber ’23 is a chemistry major with a double minor in economics and international relations. Outside of her time spent as a member of the HWS sailing team, she works as a Chemistry Teaching Fellow and in the Student Engagement office. She also studied abroad in Copenhagen and conducted chemistry research on campus in the summer.
Katerina Yacoub ’23 is majoring in environmental studies and minoring in Asian studies and American studies. She currently serves as president of the Asian Student Union and interns for the Office of Sustainability. Yacoub has also spent her years on campus as a Community Assistant and an America Reads Tutor and has helped run the student-led Campus Garden.
Hai Timiai is the highest honor for William Smith students and has been awarded on campus since 1953. The honor society’s name, Hai Timiai, is Greek for “honored women.” Admittance into the honor society is based on academic accomplishments, leadership, mentorship and service to the College and the larger community.
