5 People Who Make Ithaca Proud
Ithaca has so many fantastic people. Here's 5 that make us proud to say that we are from the 14850:
1. Svante Myrick
By now, you most likely know the story of Svante Myrick. He grew up in central New York, and life wasn't always easy for the now 28-year-old. His family struggled during his childhood, often times dealing with food insecurity. But Myrick made his way from Earlville, New York to Ithaca to attend Cornell University, and at age 20, was elected to the city council in Ithaca.
By the end of 2009, Myrick had overwhelmingly been elected as mayor, becoming the youngest person to hold that position in the city's history. He's a tireless advocate for the city, consistently lobbying in Albany and Washington D.C. for funding for the city. And, he's even spread that message abroad. In August, Myrick made a voyage to Switzerland for an economic summit with young leaders from around the world.
2. Elizabeth Garrett
She's not just the president of an Ivy League institution. She's the first female president in Cornell's more than 150 year history. The 13th president brings an extremely impressive background to the East Hill.
She was a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
She served as a clerk for a tribunal in the Hague.
She did tax and budget work for a U.S. Senator's office.
And, before coming to Ithaca, she was the provost for the University of Southern California.
Though she's early on in her time as president, Garrett has already established herself as a visionary ready to carry Cornell into the future.
3. Gabby Giffords
You may not know that the former Arizona congresswoman attended school in Ithaca at Cornell University. She earned a degree from the school in 1996.
In January 2011, Giffords' life changed forever, when she was shot at an event where she was meeting constituents outside of a grocery store. Giffords was forced to step down from Congress, but has been a tireless advocate for gun control laws.
In May of 2015, Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, gave the convocation speech to the graduating class. After everything she's been through, Giffords showed no signs of slowing down during that speech.
"The nation is counting on you to create, to lead, to innovate. But today, we celebrate you. Be bold, be courageous, be your best. Go Big Red!” she told the crowd at Schoellkopf Stadium.
4. Dustin Brown
A big-time athlete who plays in L.A. as the captain of the NHL's Kings. He's won two Stanley Cups. He can't be a good guy, right?
That's simply not the case for Dustin Brown, who has brought the Cup back to Ithaca both times. Oh, and those trips have raised money for restoring Cass Park and for a new playground at the local YMCA.
Oh, and by the way, Brown took time out of his off-season to play in the 2nd annual Racker Rivals back in July, to raise money for the Franziska Racker Centers. All-around good guy, joining Ben Scrivens and Joe Nieuwendyk (also pictured).
5. Margery Lipenski
Her name might not stand out like the first four on the list, but Margery Lipenski is someone who can make us all proud of the place we love.
Margery received some well-deserved attention in New York City, after she decided she was going to donate one of her kidneys. To a random stranger. And simply because she wanted to help.
"I want to do something to help somebody else," Lipenski told the New York Post.
She underwent a successful procedure at the hospital and saved the life of a 68-year-old man diagnosed with kidney disease, who she had never met before. Sure makes us proud to be from the same town that she's from.
