Patricia Ornauer

An I.P.E.D. and Social Sciences major from Tokyo, Japan, co-manager of Twisted Café,  writing tutor in the Academic Resource Center, leader of Pi Gamma Mu and Academic Coordinator—Patricia Ornauer does not only bring diversity to UB, but leadership, talent and an optimistic attitude as well. She will be graduating with a minor in Criminal Justice/Sociology and Global Development and hopes to be an ambassador and obtain a law degree eventually, but is interested in exploring her options first. While at UB, Ornauer was inducted into four Honor Societies: National Honor Society of Political Science (Phi Sigma Alpha Chapter), National Honor Society of International Studies, International Honor Society of Social Science and National Society of Leadership & Success. Her accomplishments exemplifies how focused she is.

During her first semester of freshman year, Ornauer tried out for both Tempted to Dance (T2D) and F.L.O.H. (Future Leaders of Hip-Hop) and knowing that she could only choose one, decided to stick with F.L.O.H. This was not a membership she took lightly at all, as she was very passionate about dance.

"2^nd grade; The Macarena," Ornauer said, as she described her very first interest in dance. "I love choreographed dances. I got obsessed with making up dances all the time [and] was always making up moves. It distracted me from the world around me."

She was introduced to hip-hop in 6^th grade and shared that she became a closet dancer, in response to the taunting of her peers. "I did not stop choreographing; I was so fascinated by hip-hop."

Freshman year of high school was when she learned about break dancing and freestyling, and Ornauer said that she loved it. She used to be a part of a dance crew in Okinawa, Japan and said that they won plenty of battles but at the end of the day it was all about having fun. As someone who moved around a lot, dancing was something that stuck with Ornauer.

"I would definitely like to teach dance," Ornauer said. "There are children on the streets without these opportunities. I would coordinate programs to provide them a space. I don't want them to waste any time; I want them to help their generation."

She also plays the piano, guitar and flute and was even given the opportunity to play for the president of UB, Neil Salonen, during a few special events in the past.

Ornauer is the first in her family to graduate from college and said that her biggest accomplishment is that she has become a role model to her family.

"I don't want the future generations of my family to be discouraged," she said.

Ornauer hopes to be accepted into the graduate program called the Global Leadership Development Program and described International Politics as a "huge field," but has interest in obtaining a degree in Law eventually.

The first semester of her senior year, Ornauer became an Academic Coordinator and said her goal is to encourage students, guide them and get their potential out in the open.

Ms. [Professor] Roxie Ray, Director of the ARC and FYS, did not know Patricia before this semester, but was immediately impressed by her character.

"She seemed like the type of person I wanted on my team at the Academic Resource Center," Ray said. "[She has a] desire to help people and she takes her academic life seriously. She wants to be the best tutor she can be and I'm very impressed by that."

"Everyone may have their strengths and weaknesses, but that doesn't mean they're not a good student," Ornauer said. "Don't be discouraged by the mistakes you make in life; it's only a reflection of how far you've come."