Hyrum Edwards
Robert S. Harrison College Scholar, History, Jewish Studies & Near Eastern Studies
Syracuse, Utah
What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?
Interfaith Council at Cornell is my most important club, of which I am a co-president right now. When I got to college, I was aware of the rise of religious intolerance in American culture and society over the course of the past several decades. Many Americans somewhere or sometime had ancestors who were culturally, socially, or religiously persecuted and came here to seek refuge from this persecution, and I count myself among those Americans with ancestors who came to this place for safety. I believe any person who calls this nation home has a unique and particular obligation to make this country safe for people of communities who receive persecution or intolerance, and I hope that through this club, I might have played a part (even a very small one) in making this campus a place where people know they all have a critical part to play in making American culture more open and friendly to everyone.
What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?
To be honest, I think I am most proud that I came to Cornell from a high school and a place where very few people ever make it to a school like Cornell or even dreamt of such a thing, and there were several people I knew in high school who were very ready to remind me (or try to convince me) that people from my high school don't go to schools like Cornell or get into schools such as this one. I feel so much gratitude for my family who supported me and dared me to dream, and of course, for the countless teachers and professors I have had going back to preschool who were such massive cheerleaders on my behalf.
How have your beliefs or perspectives changed since you first arrived at Cornell?
I have a better sense of my place in the world, and how important it is for every one of us to be proud and grateful of where we came from. Thanks to everything I have learned here and everyone I have met, I feel more ready than ever to encourage my peers to sense that pride and gratitude in themselves, regardless of who they are, where they come from or who they pray to. This sense of confidence in your culture will make you more comfortable in rooms where you are underrepresented, more ready to stand up for yourself and more ready to show the world all the unique skills and talents you have to offer.
Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?
I’m passionate about Peace and Conflict Studies in the Middle East, and Professor Ross Brann has been especially influential. As my thesis and Jewish studies major advisor, his balanced, thoughtful approach to complex topics has shaped how I think. He doesn’t aim to make you think one thing, but to foster understanding across cultures and perspectives. My history major advisor Professor Friedland has the magic touch when it comes to teaching seminar courses in a way that balances student curiosity with thoughtful faculty guidance. Professor Monroe is my Near Eastern studies major advisor, and as one of my first professors at Cornell, she has been a guiding light throughout my college career and an invaluable resource.
Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series.Read more about the Class of 2025.
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