Alicia Verdile: Senior strives to make most of campus experience through involvement in SU organizations

Of the dozen activities Alicia Verdile participates in at Syracuse University, none seem more treasured than the one represented by the necklace she wears around her neck.

Slicked in silver, a small slice of pizza hangs on a chain. It was a gift Verdile bought herself and each of her five roommates as an early graduation gift. Together, all of the pieces make a pie.

Much like her friendships, Verdile’s life can also be divided into slices. A piece for the work she does with the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation. A piece for the fun she has on her satirical radio show. And a piece for the memories she created when she studied in London. Together, these commitments create a student who embodies everything Syracuse.

Corey Crockett, a junior broadcast and digital journalism major, became close with Verdile after spending a summer around campus. A native of Syracuse, Crockett said he appreciates that Verdile takes her love for the university and expands it into the city.

“I think she is someone who has more ambition and more goals toward making things better for people than anyone I’ve ever met,” he said. “I’ve never met anyone who cares more about making a difference, not for themselves, but for the greater good, than Alicia.”

To Crockett, Verdile’s loyalty to anything SU is rarely for personal gain. Rather, it’s for the collective achievement of whatever she’s a part of — and she’s part of a lot.

Since her freshman year, Verdile has built a resume with more accomplishments than eggs in a carton; a major with a title longer than a British monarch’s; and a future more orange than the fruit itself — she hopes to work with SU alumni in Washington, D.C., this summer.

“As long as there’s an alumni base, I feel like I’ll be able to find my way,” she said.

Verdile’s major — public policy studies with a concentration in health, education and human services, and a minor in public health — pushed her to get involved outside of the classroom.

“Do well and do good,” she said. “I like being able to really affect something.”

On her list: a Red Cross Club member, a Career Services ambassador, a research consultant for the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, an intern for PepsiCo, a teaching assistant for a public policy class, a participant in a wing-eating competition. The list goes on.

She spends most of her time as an administrative assistant for the men’s basketball team, which requires 20 hours per week at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. There, she arranges autograph sessions and coordinates schedules for the players. It’s also how she got involved with the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation.

Kelly Taylor, director of the foundation, said she’s relied heavily on Verdile while planning the charity’s annual gala, including upping its social media presence. Verdile’s productivity, positivity and enthusiasm have made Taylor’s job much easier, she said.

“She’s very on top of the world that kid is,” Taylor said.

Verdile said she has the most fun on her political satire radio show with Z89, titled “Orange State.” Even though she’s been involved less than a year, Verdile said, the different environment pushes her out of her comfort zone.

But what Verdile is most passionate about and what taught her the most, is her trip to London through SU Abroad in fall 2012. Even though British people speak English, she said, that semester provided a whole new perspective.

“I want to say I was more culture shocked when I came back here than when I first went there,” she said.

While there, she met Marie Strycharz, a senior advertising major. After roughly four months in England’s capital city, Verdile asked Strycharz to live with her when they returned to the U.S.

“Positive, positive, positive,” Strycharz said of Verdile. “She thinks you can throw any positive things together and it will still equal positive.”

Even negative ideas like “graduation” aren’t allowed in their house, said Strycharz. The term is now a swear word and each roommate has to place a quarter in the designated jar if they mention it.

Verdile’s devotion to SU is nothing short of admirable, Strycharz said. Even outside of school, she pushes everyone to get involved. When it comes to going out on the weekends, “I don’t know…” is not an excuse.

Three weeks remain before weeknights at Chuck’s have to end, but Verdile and her friends aren’t worried about it. Verdile recently sent her friend group a photo of her mother reuniting with college friends 30 years later.

Fittingly, the text said: “Don’t make plans for 2044.”