Before coming to Amherst, Judd Olanoff had already begun to cultivate many of the qualities that have buttressed him through his undergraduate years. As editor-in-chief of his New York high school newspaper The Horace Mann Record, he and his staff gained national recognition from the American Scholastic Press Association for producing the best high school weekly newspaper in the U.S. Olanoff also worked as a general counselor at Camp Equinunk, a sleepaway camp located in Equinunk, Pa. that he had attended for seven years as a child. These activities paved the way for Olanoff’s future leadership endeavors, and have shaped the person he has become today.

A political science major, Olanoff penned a thesis on Rudy Giuliani and the concept of narcissism in politics. His advisor, Chair of Political Science Thomas Dumm, said that Olanoff “is the kind of student a professor wants in his class. He has always been thoughtful, a rarer quality than [one] might guess.” Dumm also asserted that Olanoff “isn’t interested in the sound of his own voice, but has the maturity and self-reliance that when he speaks, he will be making a real contribution to the discussion.” In addition to drawing from the knowledge and experience of his professors, Olanoff has also learned from his fellow students by taking the time to listen to others’ opinions. Olanoff said he has grown to “learn from other people’s perspectives, adapting to their views, and making meaningful connections.” Anne-Claire Roesch ’08 said that Olanoff “is a very smart guy, but he’s never condescending to his peers in the classroom. He often engages other opinions set forth by fellow students instead of asserting his opinion and letting the professor make connections. He has the rare ability to question material at a level that transcends general back-and-forth discussion.”

Olanoff, who boasts membership in the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society, has been an invaluable member of the College in a number of other ways. He played on the men’s golf team for three years. Olanoff was appointed to the NESCAC All-Academic team as a junior and as a senior and also organized the team’s spring trip to Bandon Dunes, Ore. Fellow golf team member Jesse Corradi ’08 said that Olanoff “is always someone that [people] felt very comfortable around and he was a very reliable teammate and friend. He showed how well he could balance everything he does in his life—work, athletics and friendships—and go above and beyond what is expected of him.” Olanoff also served on the Committee for Education and Athletics, which discusses solutions to scheduling conflicts at the College among academics and extracurricular activities. Olanoff also worked as a campus tour guide and wrote The Student’s weekly sports column until he handed down the job at the beginning of his senior year. This year, Olanoff served as WAMH’s basketball commentator, announcing the Jeffs all the way to the NCAA Finals.

Even when he’s not in the classroom or on the green, Olanoff draws praise. “Judd’s most admirable quality is his integrity,” said Benjamin Merewitz ’08. “He has a respect for truth that is rare and he is exceptionally resistant to the forces that typically urge people into dishonesty.” Also, Merewitz said of Olanoff, “He is generous, has a great sense of humor and knows when to laugh at life rather than get frustrated.” Another friend of Olanoff, Laura Stein ’08, said that he “has made the most of his Amherst experience by challenging himself and achieving academically, working hard on the golf course, being a devoted athletics fan of the College, never turning down the opportunity to do new things and offering valuable input to everyone he knows.” Jack Lenehan ’08 echoed those sentiments. “I think the best thing about him, though, is his infectious enthusiasm and his eagerness to get himself and his friends out into the world. I can safely say that Judd was largely responsible for how much fun I had during my last year at the College.”

After graduating, Olanoff will be working at Bain & Company, a global business-consulting firm with offices in a number of cities. While working in New York next year, Olanoff will try to learn as much about business as possible. He may also enroll in law school at some point, having had the ambition of becoming a lawyer for several years. Still, Olanoff’s dream jobs include general manager for the New Jersey Nets and presidential speechwriter. He ultimately expects to find a long-term job within the fields of government, journalism, business or law.

According to Olanoff, the most valuable aspects of his college experience have been the relationships he has formed. Olanoff recalled several of his most important memories—“staying up all night with my best friends talking and laughing, playing wiffle ball in the Wieland hallway at three a.m. and then finishing a paper together and falling asleep at a six a.m. breakfast; discussing the presidential election and the College’s course offerings with Professor Arkes in his office after class; traveling in the golf team van for five hours through the Oregon countryside on our spring break trip and listening to Coach Arena describe the legendary coaching methods of James Ostendarp in the 1980s.” It is through these various experiences that Olanoff has been able to fortify the myriad connections that have shaped him both as a student and a person. As a result, Olanoff said he feels indebted to the College, which he will always consider an important vehicle for developing the relationships he so highly esteems.