Rachel Ward

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From cooking to working at the U.S. Department of Labor, knitting to presiding over the pre-law society, Rachel Ward can do anything she sets her mind to. This past summer, she was chosen as an intern for the Department of Labor, where she worked with military agencies, veterans groups and the Department of Homeland Security, among other groups. As the youngest person in the department, and one of very few females, Ward earned respect in the older-male dominated environment, proving to herself that she can succeed in even the most intimidating circumstances.

Ward is the president of UCLA’s pre-law society. She revitalized the society, taking it from a résumé-booster to an important part of any pre-law student’s life. The society holds interactive workshops, professors discuss how to get letters of recommendation with the society members, and the students are able to speak with lawyers to discuss whether or not law is right for them. Ward attributes her involvement on campus to her sorority. When she was in her first year, her sorority sisters encouraged her to get involved on campus. Through the years, Ward has become increasingly more involved both on campus and in her sorority, and this year is vice-president of recruitment for her house. Working with more than 100 girls at a time has made her a better leader, mediator, and negotiator. Her experiences both at UCLA and off-campus have enabled her to be confident in any situation. “Earning this type of distinction really shows me what I’m capable of,” she says.